USS Gerald R. Ford Pulls into Croatian Port of Split

(MENAFN) The USS Gerald R. Ford, the most powerful aircraft carrier in the US Navy's arsenal, has pulled into the Croatian port of Split following a resupply and repair stop at Souda Bay, Greece, as the broader US-Israel air campaign against Iran continues to reshape the region's security landscape.

The Navy confirmed the arrival of the warship, which had been actively operating in the Red Sea as part of coordinated strikes against Iran — a campaign launched in late February that has so far claimed more than 1,340 lives, among them then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Commanding officer Capt. David Skarosi said the crew was "excited to be back in Split for some well-deserved liberty."

During its stay at Souda Bay, maintenance crews conducted thorough repair assessments and continued probing a fire that erupted in the vessel's laundry facilities on March 12. Seven berthing compartments impacted by the blaze are currently being restored to full operational capacity.

Since departing Naval Station Norfolk in June 2025, the Gerald R. Ford strike group has cut through the Arctic, Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Red Sea — a deployment range that underscores the breadth of Washington's current global military posture.

Operating under the US 6th Fleet, the strike group encompasses Carrier Air Wing 8, Destroyer Squadron Two, and guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill, collectively mandated with deterrence operations, economic security, and preserving freedom of navigation.

Meanwhile, Iran has struck back with waves of drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting US forces — triggering casualties, infrastructure damage, and cascading disruptions to global markets and commercial aviation.

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