The White House announced last week USS Abraham Lincoln would be sent to the area in response to unspecified threats from Iran. The USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group made its way through the Suez Canal on Thursday, ahead of a possible showdown with Iran. The Lincoln was already scheduled for deployment in the area, having left Naval Station Norfolk on April 1. But the aircraft carrier's timetable was accelerated when the White House announced last week the Lincoln would be sent to the area in response to unspecified threats from Iran. The Pentagon on Friday also announced USS Arlington will join up with the Lincoln Carrier Strike Group in the region, along with a Patriot missile battery. "The United States does not seek conflict with Iran, but we are postured and ready to defend U.S. forces and interests in the region," Department of Defense said in a press release. The U.S. removed Patriot missile batteries from Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan late last year. It's not clear if the batteries would go back to those countries. Meanwhile, another Norfolk-based ship is already in the same general region. The Military Times reports USS Kearsarge entered the Arabian Sea earlier this week. The Kearsarge's deployment is reportedly not connected to the threats from Iran, but the ship is still an asset for US Central Command as long as it's in the area. The Kearsarge also has members of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit on board.<doc-sep>This post has been updated with new information on the position of USS Arlington The amphibious warship is currently in 6th Fleet and not currently in 5th Fleet. The Pentagon is sending amphibious warship USS Arlington (LPD-24) and elements of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit to join the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group as a hedge against Iran, according to a Friday Pentagon statement. “USS Arlington is a San Antonio-class ship that transports U.S. Marines, amphibious vehicles, conventional landing craft and rotary aircraft with the capability to support amphibious assault, special operations, or expeditionary warfare missions,” read the statement. “Arlington also provides a high-quality command and control capability and improved interoperability with our allies and partners in the region.” The Lincoln CSG was ordered to depart the Mediterranean Sea for U.S. 5th Fleet and U.S. Central Command’s (CENTCOM) area of operation, “in response to indications of heightened Iranian readiness to conduct offensive operations against U.S. forces and our interests,” according to the statement CENTCOM Commander Marine Gen. Kenneth McKenzie asked for the Lincoln CSG and a detachment of B-52 Stratofortress bombers to be sent to the region, following assessments made a week ago by the U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton about a “number of troubling and escalatory indications and warnings.” On Thursday, the Lincoln CSG left the Mediterranean and transited the Suez Canal, officially entering U.S. 5th Fleet and U.S. Central Command. As of Saturday, Arlington was in 6th Fleet operating as part of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG). USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) and USS Fort McHenry (LSD-43) are currently operating in 5th Fleet. Shanahan also ordered a U.S. Army Patriot missile battery to U.S. Central Command as part of the command’s original request for forces from earlier this week. “A Patriot battery is a long-range, all-weather air defense system to counter tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and advanced aircraft,” read the statement. The Wall Street Journal first reported the Patriot deployment on Friday. The Lincoln CSG deployed on April 1, as the start of a planned around-the-world cruise so USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) can relocate later this year to its new homeport in San Diego, Calif. As part of the deployment, the Lincoln CSG was expected to operate in the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Western Pacific. “The United States does not seek conflict with Iran, but we are postured and ready to defend U.S. forces and interests in the region. The following is the May 10, 2019 statement from the Pentagon. Statement from the Department of Defense on Additional Forces to U.S. Central Command The Acting Secretary of Defense has approved the movement of USS Arlington (LPD-24) and a Patriot battery to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) as part of the command’s original request for forces from earlier this week. These assets will join the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and a U.S. Air Force bomber task force in the Middle East region in response to indications of heightened Iranian readiness to conduct offensive operations against U.S. forces and our interests. The Department of Defense continues to closely monitor the activities of the Iranian regime, their military and proxies. Due to operational security, we will not discuss timelines or location of forces. The United States does not seek conflict with Iran, but we are postured and ready to defend U.S. forces and interests in the region,” the Pentagon said. USS Arlington is a San Antonio-class ship that transports U.S. Marines, amphibious vehicles, conventional landing craft and rotary aircraft with the capability to support amphibious assault, special operations, or expeditionary warfare missions. USS Arlington also provides a high quality command and control capability and improved interoperability with our allies and partners in the region. A Patriot battery is a long-range, all-weather air defense system to counter tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and advanced aircraft.<doc-sep>Bolton said the move is in "response to a number of troubling and escalatory indications and warnings" adding that the move is intended "to send a clear and unmistakable message to the Iranian regime that any attack on United States interests or on those of our allies will be met with unrelenting force." The strike group is being accompanied by an Air Force bomber task force, Bolton said.<doc-sep>The Navy announced the deployment of the Lincoln on April 8, a week after it departed from Norfolk. Croatian news reports suggested that the Lincoln would soon head into its port of Split, but a U.S. defense official said Monday that the carrier will now “expedite its arrival” in the Middle East “in order to defend American forces and interests in the region.” U.S. military officials did not say Monday whether the port visit will be canceled.<doc-sep>
The USS Abraham Lincoln passes a mosque on the bank of the Suez Canal. Navy photo The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group have passed through the Suez Canal in Egypt and entered the 5th Fleet area of operations in the Middle East. The Lincoln, which left Norfolk on April 1 and will head to its new home port of San Diego at the end of its current deployment, is replacing the carrier USS John Stennis in the region. The giant ship’s movement into the tense region was expedited last week, with U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton saying it would “send a clear and unmistakable message to the Iranian regime.” The Lincoln carries 90 attack jets, helicopters and other aircraft. I has a crew of 3,200 and an additional team of 2,400 pilots, mechanics and other personnel supporting flight operations. Accompanying the Lincoln on the passage through the 120-mile-long waterway on Thursday were the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf, guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge and Spanish Navy frigate ESPS Mendez Nunez. “Our Navy exists to deter conflict, ensure freedom of the seas, preserve our strategic interests and those of our allies, and respond to crises around the world,” said Rear Adm. John Wade, commander of Carrier Strike Group Twelve. “We have trained hard and worked diligently to ensure we are prepared and ready to conduct a whole host of missions wherever and whenever required.” The Navy typically deploys one aircraft carrier battle group and one Marine expeditionary unit led by an amphibious assault ship in the Middle East at all times. The USS Kearsage amphibious group is there now, to be replaced soon by the USS Boxer, which left San Diego on May 1.