US Deploys Warships, Jets to Middle East After Israeli Strikes on Iran

In response to Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, the United States has redeployed military forces in the Middle East to counter potential retaliatory attacks from Iran. The US Navy ordered the ballistic missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner to move from the western to the eastern Mediterranean, with at least one additional destroyer repositioned to be available upon White House request. The USS Carl Vinson remains the sole aircraft carrier in the region, though carriers USS Nimitz and USS George Washington could be redirected from the Indo-Pacific and Japan respectively if needed. American air-defense systems, including Patriot missile batteries and THAAD systems, were activated to assist Israel in intercepting Iranian missile barrages, with naval forces providing radar support and potentially interceptor fire. President Donald Trump convened a National Security Council meeting to discuss the escalating situation, as US military personnel and installations in the region have increased security measures and dependents have been voluntarily evacuated from bases. The US currently has about 40,000 troops deployed in the Middle East, up from the usual 30,000, reflecting heightened preparedness amid ongoing regional tensions.