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US Boosts Military Presence in Mediterranean

by Carla Babb June 08, 2016

The U.S. has sent two aircraft carriers to the Mediterranean Sea to support European interests and operations against Islamic State militants.

The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower arrived in the western part of the sea Wednesday while the USS Harry S. Truman remains in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, where it arrived last week, according to Navy Lieutenant Loren Terry.

The Truman and the Eisenhower will overlap territorial responsibilities for about 2½ weeks before the Truman heads back to the United States, Pentagon spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Michelle Baldanza told VOA.

The Eisenhower is deploying to the Navy's 5th Fleet, which is responsible for naval forces in the Middle East.

A U.S. defense official told VOA the Eisenhower would be supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led coalition's operation to defeat IS in Iraq and Syria, but it was unclear whether the Eisenhower would conduct anti-IS strikes from a position in the Mediterranean or from the Persian Gulf.

The increased U.S. military presence in the Mediterranean could increase tensions with Russia, which a U.S. defense official said is also operating warships in the Mediterranean.

The Eisenhower will be visiting various Italian ports in the coming days, Baldanza said.