American aircraft carrier based at Israeli shores returns to U.S.

"Immediately following Hamas' brutal attack on Israel, the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group was ordered to the eastern Mediterranean to contribute to our regional deterrence and defense posture," the U.S. Navy said in a statement.

It is noted that the newest aircraft carrier of the U.S. Navy, the Gerald R. Ford, which deploys more than 4,000 troops and eight squadrons of aircraft, has become a powerful symbol of American support, coming to the shores of Israel after an attack by Palestinian militants.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has extended its deployment three times in the hope that this presence will deter Iran and its affiliated groups, including Lebanese Hezbollah, from attacking Israel.

"Department of Defense will continue to leverage its collective force posture in the region to deter any state or non-state actor from escalating this crisis beyond Gaza," the U.S. Navy added.

It is claimed that the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford will return to its home base in Virginia.

U.S. assistance to Israel

The United States has been supporting the Israeli side since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas. In particular, it has sent several of its aircraft carriers and thousands of soldiers to Israel's shores in the Mediterranean Sea to prevent other countries or groups from interfering in the conflict.

The United States has also previously confirmed the shipment of two Iron Dome systems to Israel, which the country needs to protect itself from Hamas rocket attacks.

On December 9, the United States vetoed the UN Security Council's resolution on a humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, as it believed that it would only benefit the Palestinian militants of Hamas.

On the same day, U.S. President Joe Biden's administration used emergency powers to authorize the sale of about 14,000 tank shells to Israel without Congressional review.