USS Gerald R. Ford Reaches Croatia After Middle East Deployment
The carrier, the largest in the US fleet, had previously operated in the Red Sea as part of joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran that began late last month. Capt. David Skarosi, the ship’s commanding officer, said the crew was “excited to be back in Split for some well-deserved liberty.”
While at Souda Bay, maintenance teams conducted repair assessments and continued investigating a fire that occurred in the ship’s laundry facilities on March 12. Crews also worked to restore seven berthing compartments affected by the incident.
The carrier strike group, which departed Naval Station Norfolk in June 2025, has conducted operations across the Arctic, Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Red Sea. Deployed under the US 6th Fleet, the group includes Carrier Air Wing 8, Destroyer Squadron Two, and the guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill. Its mission is to support operations focused on deterrence, economic security, and the protection of open sea lanes.
The deployment occurs amid ongoing US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran, which began on Feb. 28 and have so far killed over 1,340 people, including Iran’s Supreme Leader at the time, Ali Khamenei.
In retaliation, Iran has launched drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, as well as Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military facilities, resulting in casualties, infrastructure damage, and disruptions to global markets and aviation.
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