USS Nimitz strike group arrives in Persian Gulf

Above: Sailors man the rails as the USS Nimitz gets underway from Naval Air Station North Island at the beginning of April.

MANAMA (AFP) - The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and strike group arrived in Gulf waters on Tuesday to provide air support to ground troops operating in Afghanistan and Iraq, the US Navy said in a statement.

The Nimitz will replace the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which left the region on Friday after serving with the US Navy’s Fifth fleet based in Bahrain.

“Their arrival continues the current two-carrier presence... demonstrating the United States’ resolve to enhance security and support long-term stability in the region,” the statement added.

The USS John C. Stennis is the other carrier currently operating in the region.

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