Middle East live: USS Ford returns from Iran war after longest deployment since Vietnam
Key takeaways
- Ford pulls up to Pier 11 at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va. on May 16, 2026. © Kendall Warner, AP/The Virginian-Pil The USS Gerald R.
- Ford aircraft carrier, dispatched to the Middle East ahead of the outbreak of war with Iran, returned home to the US after a 326-day deployment, the Pentagon said.
- Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was on hand in Norfolk, Virginia to welcome home the largest aircraft carrier in the world, the US military said on X.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
By: FRANCE 24 The USS Gerald R. Ford pulls up to Pier 11 at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va. on May 16, 2026. © Kendall Warner, AP/The Virginian-Pil The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, which was dispatched to the Middle East ahead of the outbreak of the Iran war, returned home to Virginia this weekend after a 326-day deployment, its longest since the Vietnam War. Its latest mission saw military operations in the Caribbean and the capture of Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro. Follow our liveblog for all the latest updates.
The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, dispatched to the Middle East ahead of the outbreak of war with Iran, returned home to the US after a 326-day deployment, the Pentagon said.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was on hand in Norfolk, Virginia to welcome home the largest aircraft carrier in the world, the US military said on X.