US redeploys carrier strike group to Middle East amid escalating tensions with Iran
The Pentagon has begun redeploying a US carrier strike group from the South China Sea to the US Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility, which includes the Middle East, amid escalating tensions between the Trump administration and Iran, US-based network News Nation reported on Wednesday, citing sources.
According to the report, the carrier strike group—centred on an aircraft carrier and supported by multiple warships, including at least one attack submarine—is expected to take about a week to reach the region.
The USS Abraham Lincoln is reported to be the aircraft carrier heading toward CENTCOM’s operational zone.
The redeployment marks a significant shift in US military posture and comes as Iran grapples with widespread anti-government protests driven by soaring inflation, economic hardship, and growing public anger over governance.
The move also coincides with deliberations in Washington over possible US support for protesters challenging Iran’s ruling establishment.
CENTCOM’s area of responsibility spans more than four million square miles, covering Northeast Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia, and includes 21 countries such as Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan, according to News Nation.
US officials have not publicly detailed the objectives of the redeployment, but the move underscores heightened military readiness amid rising regional tensions.
Earlier, CNN, citing sources, reported that some personnel stationed at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US military base in the Middle East, had been advised to leave as a precautionary measure.
A US official familiar with the matter said the directive reflects elevated security concerns rather than an imminent threat.
At the same time, the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia has urged its personnel to exercise increased caution, limit non-essential travel to military installations, and ensure personal safety plans are in place.
Concerns are also growing among Iran’s neighbours, who fear that any US military action could destabilise the region and trigger broader security and economic repercussions. Several regional governments have reportedly engaged directly with the Trump administration to convey their apprehensions.
On Monday, CBS News, citing two US Defence Department officials, reported that President Donald Trump had been briefed on a wide range of military and covert options against Iran, extending beyond conventional airstrikes.
These options reportedly include integrated military, cyber, and psychological operations, as protests intensify across Iran and Washington issues warnings over Tehran’s handling of demonstrators.
According to the latest verified figures from the Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA), Iran’s nationwide protests have entered their 18th day, with at least 617 protest events recorded across 187 cities.
HRANA reports that more than 18,470 people have been arrested, while 2,615 deaths have been confirmed amid an ongoing communications blackout.
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