Eisenhower CSG deploys Mid-East after passing Suez Canal

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Eisenhower CSG passing Gibraltar (Credit: USNI)

The Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is en route to the Middle East via a Suez Canal transit on completion of its operations in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, USNI reported.

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) had approached the Port Said entrance to the canal on Friday morning local time.

The aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower and its carrier strike group have started conducting flight operations supporting Operation Inherent Resolve. The U.S. Navy said Carrier Air Wing 3′s flight operations against the ISIS commenced March 31 from the Mediterranean Sea, where the Navy can support three different combatant commands.

“Our Strike Group is ready and capable of providing direct, long-range combat operational air support from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea,” said Rear Adm. Scott F. Robertson, commander of Carrier Strike Group 2 in the U.S. Navy’s press release.

“CSG-2′s presence in U.S. Sixth Fleet shows the flexibility of our naval forces to conduct operations whenever and wherever necessary,” Robertson added. “We can provide a wide range of options to our nation and allies in deterring adversarial aggression and disruption of maritime security and regional stability.

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Eisenhower CSG passing Suez Canal (Courtesy of @GDarkconrad on Twitter)

Eisenhower has been operating in the Mediterranean since March 8, made port visits, and conducted several exercises to improve relationships and cooperation with regional allies.

Eisenhower CSG to hand over command of TF 50 to support Operation Inherent Resolve:

French aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle (R 91) is currently leading U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s Task Force 50, Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group will hand over the command upon its arrival.

Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) is the U.S. military’s operational name for the International military intervention against ISIL, including a campaign in Iraq and a campaign in Syria, with a closely related campaign in Libya. On September 18, 2018, the U.S. Army’s III Armored Corps was responsible for Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF—OIR) and was replaced by the XVIII Airborne Corps.

Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve continues to work by, with, and through regional partners to militarily defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, to enable whole-of-coalition governmental actions to increase regional stability.