"US Deploys Dual Carrier Strategy in Middle East to Prevent Escalation"

Two US Navy aircraft carriers, the Gerald R. Ford and Dwight D. Eisenhower, along with about 11,000 personnel, conducted a three-day exercise in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, showcasing their strength and practicing missile defense. The exercise coincided with high-level diplomacy efforts aimed at preventing a wider war in the Middle East. The show of force sends a message to Iran, Russia, and China, while also reassuring allies and deterring antagonists. The naval activity occurred during US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's talks with Middle East leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and efforts to ease Gaza's humanitarian crisis.