The world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, has departed Split after completing repairs and resupply, and is expected to return to operations linked to the conflict in the Middle East, according to U.S. Navy statements.
The carrier spent five days in the Croatian port undergoing maintenance after sustaining damage from a fire that broke out in onboard facilities during earlier operations. The navy said the vessel is now fully ready to resume its mission.
The USS Gerald R. Ford had been deployed to the Middle East in mid-February as part of a broader U.S. military buildup near Iran, joining other naval assets already positioned in the region.
Its strike group is one of several supporting U.S. operations, alongside other carriers such as the USS Abraham Lincoln, providing a platform for dozens of aircraft and thousands of personnel involved in the ongoing air campaign.
A third carrier, the USS George H.W. Bush, is also reportedly heading toward the region with escort ships and a strike group of more than 6,000 sailors, signaling a further escalation of U.S. military presence.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest warship ever built, carries around 4,500 personnel and has been deployed at sea since mid-2025, conducting missions across multiple regions including the Arctic, Mediterranean, Caribbean and Red Sea.
The move comes as the conflict involving Iran continues to intensify, with naval forces playing a central role in sustaining military operations and projecting power in the region.