US deploys 150 aircraft to Middle East

According to The Washington Post, more than 150 American military aircraft and nearly one-third of the US Navy's combat-ready fleet are deployed in the region off the coast of Iran. Satellite data and flight tracking were used to confirm the movement. The world's largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, was spotted off the coast of the Greek island of Crete, carrying dozens of aircraft, making it the second aircraft carrier in the region. Now the Middle East is becoming saturated with American naval equipment, something experts say has not been seen since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

According to the Washington Post, the increased US presence in the region reflects growing military efforts to support peacekeeping operations and deter resistance from Iran.

Context

The same region was the site of US military operations in 2003 during the invasion of Iraq.