US withdraws one of two aircraft carriers from the Middle East

(Patria) - One of two US aircraft carrier strike groups deployed in the Middle East, partly to deter Iran from attacking Israel, has left the region, the Pentagon announced on Thursday. The decision to end the dual-carrier presence came nearly three weeks after US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group to remain in the Middle East, even after the arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group to replace it.

The Roosevelt has now left the Middle East and is heading to the Asia-Pacific region, Major General Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesperson, said at a press briefing, Reuters reported. Austin's order for the Roosevelt to stay put came on August 25, when Hezbollah launched hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel, and the Israeli military said it attacked Lebanon with about a hundred aircraft to thwart a larger attack.

Officials are concerned that Iran might fulfill its threats to launch an attack on Israel due to the killing of a Hamas leader in Tehran in July.

Ryder downplayed the idea that the US is no longer concerned about potential Iranian action, saying the decision was based on naval fleet management.

“Iran has signaled that it wants to retaliate against Israel. And so we will continue to take that threat very seriously,” Ryder said.

Iran has vowed a response to the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, which occurred while he was visiting Tehran and for which it blamed Israel, which has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement.

The administration of US President Joe Biden has been trying to limit the consequences of the war in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, which is now approaching its first anniversary.

“We remain intensely focused on working with regional partners to de-escalate tensions and deter a wider regional conflict,” Ryder said.