Over the weekend it was confirmed by Pentagon statements that the USSGerald R. Fordaircraft carrier strike group has belatedly redeployed to the Middle East aftera month in port for repairsfollowing a fire aboard the ship.

The world's largest aircraft carrierreturned to operations after what's been officially described as a blaze in its laundry area, which headlines have presented as accidental. The incident injured sailors and forced significant maintenance work, and ever since it happened on March 12, there's been anavalanche of public speculation that Iranian forces my have hit itin a missile or drone attack.

However, US and military officials have repeatedly rejected that theFordwas damaged as a result of Iranian attack, as Tehran has claimed.

The carrier is rejoining an expanding US military buildup in the region - with the USSAbraham Lincolnstrike group already deployed, and the USSGeorge H.W. Bushexpected to soon join,which would bring the number of US carriers in the Middle East to three.

By comparison,the 2003 US invasion of Iraq was supported by a total of five US Navy aircraft carriers, with some in the Persian Gulf and some in the Mediterranean.

The Ford had been operating in the eastern Mediterranean when the US and Israel launched military operations against Iran. While transiting the Red Sea last month, a fire allegedly broke out in the ship's main laundry facility, triggering a major damage-control response and forcing the vessel to divert for repairs.

After completing maintenance, the bulk of which was done at theCroatian port town and Split, the carrier has returned to active duty.

Before earlier this year returning to the Middle East, the Ford operated in the Caribbean, including missions targeting suspected drug trafficking, and it was heavily involved in the controversial US operation against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

As a reminder on the Bush carrier's route:

🇺🇸 🇮🇷 USS GEORGE HW BUSH CARRIER GROUP TAKES LONG ROUTE TO MIDDLE EAST TO AVOID BAB AL MANDAB STRAIT AND HOUTHISSource: USNIpic.twitter.com/opTeCA6Nut

Source: ZeroHedge News