Washington, DC [US], January 15 (ANI): The US Department of Defense has stated that it is 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, as tensions escalate between the Trump administration and Iran. The Islamic Republic is currently witnessing widespread anti-government protests driven by soaring inflation, economic hardship, and mounting public anger over governance, US-based news network NewsNation reported, citing sources.
According to NewsNation, the carrier strike group, centered on an aircraft carrier and supported by multiple warships, including at least one attack submarine, is expected to take around a week to reach the region. The USS Abraham Lincoln is reported to be the aircraft carrier heading toward the Middle East.
The deployment marks a significant shift in US military assets and comes against the backdrop of growing unrest in Iran and ongoing deliberations in Washington over potential US support for protesters challenging the Islamic Republic’s ruling establishment.
CENTCOM’s area of responsibility spans more than 4 million square miles across Northeast Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia, and includes 21 countries such as Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan, NewsNation reported.
US officials have not publicly commented on the specific objectives of the redeployment, but the move underscores heightened US military readiness amid rising regional tensions.
Earlier, CNN reported, citing sources, that some personnel stationed at the US’s largest military base in the Middle East have been advised to leave as a precautionary measure amid concerns over potential military action against Iran.
According to a US official familiar with the matter, the directive applies to certain staff at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and reflects heightened security concerns rather than an immediate 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 in the region, and ensure personal safety plans are in place.
Concerns are also growing among countries neighboring Iran, which fear that any military strike could destabilize the region and trigger wider security and economic repercussions. These apprehensions have prompted regional governments to engage directly with the Trump administration.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump was briefed on a range of military and covert options that could be employed against Iran, extending beyond conventional airstrikes, CBS News reported, citing two US Defense Department officials. The options reportedly include integrated military, cyber, and psychological operations.
According to the latest verified data from the Human Rights Activist News Agency, Iran’s nationwide protests have entered their 18th day amid an ongoing communications blackout. At least 617 protest events have been recorded across 187 cities, with more than 18,470 people arrested and 2,615 deaths confirmed so far. (ANI)
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