For the first time since the Gaza war began, the U.S. will have no aircraft carrier nearby. Meanwhile, a weapons shortage has left the Pentagon spread thin.

The US is deploying warships and B-52 bombers to the Middle East as a deterrent to Iran, the Pentagon said on Friday.

Pentagon deploys ballistic defense destroyers, fighter jets, tankers and B-52 bombers to Middle East, strengthening deterrence amid rising tensions with Iran.

The additional ships, fighter jets and bombers are meant to keep the American military presence strong as one carrier group leaves.

The USS The Sullivans, an Arleigh Burke-class, guided missile destroyer based in Florida, deployed to the Middle East after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered more U.S. warships, bomber aircraft and fighter jets to the region.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pledged a “crushing response” to Israel and the U.S., as the Pentagon said it is sending U.S. ballistic missile defense destroyers and aircraft to the Middle East.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered more warplanes and Navy ships to the Middle East to maintain U.S. presence in the region as an aircraft carrier strike group is preparing to leave, the Pentagon announced Friday.

U.S. ballistic missile defense destroyers, fighter squadron and tanker aircraft, and B-52 long-range strike bombers are expected to arrive in coming months, the Pentagon said.

American B-52 bombers have arrived in the Middle East, the U.S. military said Saturday, a day after Washington announced their deployment in a warning to Iran. "B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers from Minot Air Force Base's 5th Bomb Wing arrived in the U.