[Regnum] The US Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford will leave the Middle East and return to the US in the coming days for emergency repairs. This was reported on Wednesday, April 29, by The Washington Post.
"This is a welcome relief for the approximately 4,500 sailors who have been in the combat zone for 10 months," the newspaper noted, citing several American officials.
It is emphasized that the ship's departure represents a significant loss of firepower amid the stalemate in peace talks between the US and Iran. The Gerald R. Ford remained in the Red Sea until recently.
In March, a fire broke out on the aircraft carrier. It took 30 hours to extinguish the blaze, and two people were injured. The ship was sent to a naval base in Crete for investigation. It is suspected that the crew started the fire in an attempt to end their mission early.
Meanwhile, new problems were discovered on the Gerald R. Ford when it arrived at a Cypriot port. Experts also expressed concerns that other serious problems could exist on board, but the tests conducted were insufficient to assess the ship's operational suitability.
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