A U.S. aircraft carrier and several additional warships reached the Middle East on Monday, defense officials said, as President Donald Trump and his advisers weigh potential military strikes on Iran following the recent killing of thousands of Iranian civilians in protests. The current official said they won’t all be there for at least another week, providing Trump with a full range of options. Ask The Post AIDive deeperThe carrier strike group is led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which is carrying dozens of fighter jets and nearly 5,000 sailors. Ask The Post AIDive deeperNo U.S. aircraft carrier has been in the Middle East since October, when the USS Nimitz departed the region. The Pentagon has since continued to build up forces in the Middle East.

Source: Washington Post January 27, 2026 02:30 UTC