US sends USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group and Marine unit to Middle East

The Pentagon is deploying the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Middle East, two U.S. officials told Fox News. Officials say more forces and aircraft are expected to arrive in the coming weeks as part of preparations for potential escalations in the region. This deployment follows an October 1 report to the Jerusalem Post that a carrier and a Marine unit would be sent to U.S. Central Command’s area of operations. Independent Farsi noted the move could signal a resumption of attacks. Separately, Fox News cited two U.S. officials saying the Theodore Roosevelt strike group and the 13th Marine unit have departed for the Middle East and that the number of U.S. carriers in the region would rise to three. (Sources: Fox News; Jerusalem Post report cited by Independent Farsi; Iran International reporting the carrier count)