USS George H. W. Bush Also Heads to the Middle East, Bringing U.S. Carrier Presence to Three

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[The Financial News]  As tensions continue in the Middle East, the arrival of the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush in the region has raised the number of U.S. carriers deployed there to three.
On the 23rd (local time), United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on social media platform X that "the Bush entered the Indian Ocean, within CENTCOM's area of responsibility, on April 23." 
Two other aircraft carriers are also currently stationed in the Middle East, in addition to the Bush.
CENTCOM said USS Gerald R. Ford is currently operating in the Red Sea, while USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is also carrying out a mission in the Middle East.
It is highly unusual for the U.S. to deploy three aircraft carriers to the same region at the same time.
The move comes as the U.S.-Israel airstrike campaign against Iran, which began in late February, has entered a roughly two-week ceasefire period, suggesting a buildup of forces in preparation for possible future military tensions.
The Ford has now been on a long-term deployment for 10 months. It was previously assigned to operations in the Caribbean Sea, including crackdowns on drug-smuggling vessels and efforts to block sanctioned oil tankers. It also took part in an operation to arrest Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro Moros.
jjyoon@fnnews.com Yoon Jae-joon Reporter