The United States announced the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, along with a bomber task force, to the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) region, in response to escalatory indications and warnings by Iran in the area.

An EA-18G Growler launches from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72)(Picture source: US Navy )

The official statement from National Security Advisor John Bolton reads: "In response to a number of troubling and escalatory indications and warnings, the United States is deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and a bomber task force to the U.S. Central Command region to send a clear and unmistakable message to the Iranian regime that any attack on United States interests or on those of our allies will be met with unrelenting force. The United States is not seeking war with the Iranian regime, but we are fully prepared to respond to any attack, whether by proxy, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or regular Iranian forces."

The bomber task force consists of squadrons of the Carrier Air Wing (CAW) 7, which includes the Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 25 and the VFA-143 (F/A-18E Super Hornet), the VFA-86 and VFA-103 (F/A-18F Super Hornet twin-seat jets), the Electronic Attack Squadron 140 (EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft), the Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 121 (E-2D Advanced Hawkeye tactical airborne early warning aircraft), the Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 79 (MH-60R Seahawk multi-mission naval helicopters), the Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5 (MH-60S multi-mission naval helicopters), and the Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40 (C-2A Greyhound carrier onboard delivery aircraft).