The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68), its escort of three Arleigh Burke guided missile destroyers and one Ticonderoga guided missile cruiser have been tasked to the Red Sea ahead of an expected U.S. strike on Syria, several news services reported on Monday.
USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-100), USS Stockdale (DDG-106), USS Shoup (DDG-86) and USS Princeton (CG-59), along with Nimitz, puts “that strike group in a position to respond to a variety of contingencies,” said a U.S. defense official was quoted by Reuters.
The Nimitz strike group was scheduled to return to its homeport at Naval Station Everett, Wash. after a U.S Central Command deployment but was ordered to linger in the region after being relieved by USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75).
On Saturday U.S. President Barack Obama said the U.S. would delay a limited strike on Syria until Congress was able to cast a vote for military action.
Currently five U.S. guided missile destroyers and amphibious warship USS San Antonio (LPD-17) are in the Eastern Mediterranean in advance of the planned U.S. strike.