US Aircraft Carrier Deployed in Mediterranean to Support Israel

The Pentagon has ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and another warship to remain in the Mediterranean Sea for several more weeks to maintain a two-carrier presence near Israel as its war with Hamas continues. This is the third time the Ford's deployment has been extended, highlighting concerns about volatility in the region. The decision comes as Iran-backed militants in Iraq and Syria have been conducting regular attacks on U.S. military installations, and U.S. warships have intercepted missiles fired towards Israel from Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Ford's deployment extension is part of the Pentagon's efforts to deter Iran from escalating the conflict into a regional war.