"USS Gerald R. Ford Ends Extended Deployment with Mission to Protect Israel"
The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, after a deployment aimed at preventing the Israel-Hamas conflict from escalating, is set to return home. It will be replaced by the USS Bataan and its accompanying warships. During its deployment, the Ford and its strike group operated in the Eastern Mediterranean and intercepted ballistic missiles and drones from Yemen. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had visited the carrier, highlighting the strategic importance of the mission. The USS Eisenhower also played a role in protecting commercial shipping in the region, engaging Houthi boats attacking a container ship. The incoming warships carry significant Marine forces, enhancing the U.S. military's capability in the region.