SPLIT, Croatia — The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, which has been part of Middle East war operations, arrived at the Croatian city of Split today, the US embassy says in a statement.
AFP journalists saw the vessel arriving this morning as it headed toward the port, with the embassy saying it was part of a “scheduled port visit and maintenance.”
The carrier left a naval base in Crete earlier this week after returning to the base following a laundry fire onboard, which injured two crew members.
“During its visit the USS Gerald R Ford will host local officials and key leaders to recognize the strong and enduring alliance between the United States and Croatia,” the embassy statement says.
The United States and Israel launched a massive air campaign against Iran in late February following a major US military buildup in the Middle East that included the Ford and another aircraft carrier, the Abraham Lincoln.
Both ships — which have air wings made up of dozens of aircraft — have played key roles in Iran operations, and the withdrawal of the Ford leaves a gap for US forces in the region.
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