US Deploys Naval Buildup in Middle East as Trump Signals a 'Big Flotilla' Toward Iran

Amid rising tensions with Iran, the United States is expanding its Middle East military presence, moving the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to the Indian Ocean, and adding cargo jets and refueling aircraft as Trump warns of a large flotilla heading toward Iran. Allies like the UK and Israel are heightening defense postures, with sanctions and warnings increasing the risk of escalation, while Iran and the IRGC threaten retaliation. Details of exact forces and timing remain unclear, and planners weigh scenarios from limited strikes to potential regime-change efforts in a volatile regional context, including the strategic chokepoint at the Strait of Hormuz.