Pentagon to Replace 1 Carrier in Middle East as Troop Morale Slumps
Updated
Updated · NBC News · Aug 13
Pentagon to Replace 1 Carrier in Middle East as Troop Morale Slumps
3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Aug 13
Summary
The Pentagon plans to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, one of 2 U.S. aircraft carriers deployed in the Middle East, according to a U.S. official.
Months of deployments tied to the war with Iran have left American service members facing low morale and widespread fatigue, two U.S. officials said.
Those concerns are being raised privately by military leaders inside both the Pentagon and the White House, signaling the strain has reached senior levels.
The carrier swap points to a broader effort to sustain the U.S. military presence in the region while managing the toll of an extended Iran-related mission.