An aircraft carrier strike group led by the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is expected to deploy next week to the U.S. European Command area.

This was reported by CNN, citing an American official and two other sources, Ukrinform reports.

The deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford has reportedly been planned since late last year. However, given Israel's conflict with Iran, the carrier strike group is likely to be deployed to the eastern Mediterranean, near Israeli territory.

Meanwhile, another aircraft carrier is heading to the Middle East, where it will either join or replace the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, CNN reports.

The channel notes that the US military uses aircraft carriers to project power anywhere in the world, and they are among the first to deploy during crises. Aircraft carriers can carry dozens of aircraft capable of striking, intercepting missiles and drones, and are accompanied by warships that can defend against air, surface and underwater threats.

As Ukrinform reported, the day before, on June 16, it became known that The US Navy has sent another, second, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Nimitz to the shores of Israel, which has recently operated in the South China Sea, and is probably preparing to redeploy another aircraft carrier strike group led by the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which has already left Japan and begun moving towards the Philippines.

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, June 18, that he was still considering a US military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.