USS Washington arrives in Middle East after aircraft carrier outcry

What the report says

The USS George Washington has arrived in the Arabian Sea, according to US Central Command, after being sent from the Western Pacific as part of what the military described as a scheduled deployment. Al Jazeera reported that the move comes after the US Navy decided to rotate the USS Lincoln back home following a prolonged mission in the Middle East tied to the US-Israel war with Iran.

The carrier change has drawn attention because the Lincoln’s deployment became the longest in its history without a port stop. Reports cited by Al Jazeera described poor food and hygiene supplies, maintenance problems, and strain on the roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard. Families of service members also told US media that the extended mission had taken a mental health toll on some personnel.

The shift leaves the US without an aircraft carrier in the Western Pacific, even as Washington has stressed the importance of that region. Some Democratic lawmakers have argued the situation shows weak planning by the Trump administration, while Trump and senior Pentagon officials have rejected the criticism and said the conditions reflected wartime austerity.

The deployment also comes amid continued tension with Iran. Al Jazeera noted that talks between Washington and Tehran do not appear close to resuming, and that Trump announced new economic pressure measures against Iran on Thursday.