U.S. Central Command announced on X this morning, April 24, that there are now three aircraft carriers operating in its area of responsibility. “For the first time in decades, three aircraft carriers are operating in the Middle East at the same time,” it said. “Accompanied by their carrier air wings, the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) include over 200 aircraft and 15,000 Sailors and Marines.”