CNN reported on the 27th, citing US Navy officials, that the USS Roosevelt aircraft carrier and 5,000 crew members will be sent to the Middle East in the coming weeks to replace the USS Washington and carry out a deployment mission of at least seven months.
According to the report, the USS Washington had just replaced the USS Lincoln on the 20th, which had been deployed at sea for more than 200 days.
Since launching military action against Iran in February this year, the United States has continued to deploy aircraft carriers to the Middle East, and the US Navy is facing its longest deployment cycles in decades. US Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Cording said that being in a continued state of conflict with Iran is putting pressure on the US Navy fleet.
Previously, it was reported that sailors aboard the USS Lincoln suffered from living conditions and mental health issues due to the high-intensity operational tempo and long deployment, with several crew members having mental breakdowns and attempting to jump overboard.