US warship heading to Middle East amid escalating Iran-Israel tensions

The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz departed Southeast Asia on Monday, cancelling a scheduled port call in Vietnam, amid reports it is being redirected to the Middle East to reinforce the US military presence as tensions escalate between Israel and Iran.

As of 13:45 GMT, ship-tracking data from Marine Traffic showed the Nimitz transiting the Malacca Strait en route to the Indian Ocean.

A planned June 20 reception aboard the carrier in Danang—part of an anticipated June 19–23 visit—had been cancelled, AFP reported, quoting a Vietnamese government official.

The official cited a letter from the US embassy stating that the event was called off due to an “emergent operational requirement” by the Department of Defense.

Both the US Embassy in Hanoi and a spokesperson for the Nimitz declined to comment on the development.

The redeployment of one of the world’s largest warships comes as the Israel-Iran conflict enters its fourth day, with no signs of de-escalation despite international appeals for restraint.

According to Iranian authorities, Israeli airstrikes have so far killed at least 224 people, including senior military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians. In response, Iran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel and warned of further “effective, targeted, and more devastating operations.”

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee confirmed Monday that one of Iran’s missiles caused minor damage to a building used by the US Embassy in Tel Aviv.