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News & Current Events Apr 17, 2026 at 9:38 PM

US aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford returns to Middle East waters

Posted by InterestingGrass5038


www.iranintl.com
US aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford returns to Middle East waters

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vivalatew 1 day ago +420
Did it forget it's keys?
420
Southern_Loquat_4450 1 day ago +75
Garage opener, couldn't get in.
75
ignatious__reilly 1 day ago +10
Forgot to return the hotel key It’s one of those hotels that charges you out the ass if you don’t return it
10
gilligan888 21 hr ago +1
They left their phone charger plugged in
1
Jealous-Spinach-4881 1 day ago +339
Welcome to Friday evening. Now we start seeing the truth happen.
339
Zulmoka531 1 day ago +96
Bingo! This whole day has been yet another goddam grift!
96
StevieBlunder44 1 day ago +16
Its honestly wild. I love history, but Im not sure I love living through it 
16
Dry-Term7880 1 day ago +12
This history is being written by a mentally ill old man going through a manic episode and calling the shots sleepless late at night.
12
Steamsagoodham 1 day ago +274
Entering the Red Sea just a few days short of day 300 of deployment. I can’t imagine how painful that must be for the crew.
274
Missile_Lawnchair 1 day ago +154
They're going to start melding in with the ship like that one Pirates of the Caribbean movie.
154
agarwaen117 1 day ago +85
Part of the crew, part of the ship.
85
agaloch2314 1 day ago +12
Event Hormuzon
12
OwnerOfCat 1 day ago +13
Where we’re going, we don’t need eyeatollas.
13
Sky_HUN 1 day ago +76
Wouldn't be surprised if some among the crew will leave the navy as soon they are finally back in the US.
76
zachxyz 1 day ago +43
That happens anyways
43
Redditkid16 1 day ago +26
Yeah the average military service length is only around 6 years. Vast majority get out after their first contract.
26
Irish_and_idiotic 1 day ago +19
Because for the vast majority of people life in the military is a f****** ballache 😂
19
Redditkid16 1 day ago +14
Yeah and unless you’re going for retirement at 20, you can get everything you want out of the military after that first contract: GI Bill, TA, Resumé bullet, potential disability pay. So for most it’s get out after 4-6 years or go for 20 in my experience
14
[deleted] 1 day ago +1
[deleted]
1
Redditkid16 1 day ago +2
No they didn’t, the pension still exists it was just reduced by a third and in exchange the government now matches contributions to your TSP up to 5% of your base pay monthly throughout the entirety of your career regardless of how long you stay in
2
Curious-Row1269 1 day ago +3
Average is 4
3
ChiefInternetSurfer 14 hr ago +1
Not anymore. They made changes to the enlistment requirements a little while back. Six year contract is now standard.
1
Curious-Row1269 14 hr ago +1
No it’s not lol. Average contracts across the military as a whole will average 4-6 but not just 6. Most MOS/AFSC/Rates are 4 years with longer schools adding additional time to serve. Every branch has 2-3 yr contracts also pop up randomly, especially the army
1
IMI4tth3w 1 day ago +6
Do they not have any way to transport or cycle crew from nearby bases? You would think at least some of them could be cycled off for some off boat time. Not really familiar with how that all works
6
FS-423 1 day ago +8
No. If you’re assigned to the carrier (either stationed on the carrier itself or a part of a squadron on the carrier), then you’re generally with the carrier for the whole deployment. If your military contract ends while you’re on the ship, then you’ll be flown back to the US. It’s also common for new personnel joining the navy to be flown out to the ship after they complete boot camp and A-school (initial occupational training).
8
HappyHoofies 1 day ago +4
My son is assigned to the Truman. I thank all that is holy for the fact it isn’t going anywhere for at least three years, as it’s time for a new reactor and other big repairs. I’d be a hot mess if he was deployed right now.
4
lordnacho666 1 day ago +2
I don't understand? How could he be assigned to a carrier that isn't doing anything? It's he working on fixing it?
2
HappyHoofies 22 hr ago +2
All the sailors assigned to the Truman are currently working on repairs, etc. My son has a desk job in an office on the carrier. He’s a nuke engineer so he does still do a little tinkering here and there.
2
ChiefInternetSurfer 14 hr ago +1
Ships go through “dry dock” periods. During this time, major repairs, renovations, upgrades, etc. are completed. Sometimes it can be for a few months, sometimes a few years, depending on the requirements.
1
Steamsagoodham 1 day ago +3
They’ll fly people off if they’re scheduled to PCS, but most people have their orders written so that they’ll be able to stay for the whole deployment. They don’t generally rotate people just to give them a break.
3
Zombie_John_Strachan 1 day ago +4
Smaller ships can do 100% crew swaps but I don’t think that would work on a carrier. Best they could do is cycle some of the crew around.
4
rsa1 1 day ago +16
Not as painful as anything the US has heaped on the Iranian people in the last 50 days, nor indeed as painful as the ripple effects of rising fuel and food costs that a billion people across Asia will face due to this war.
16
Suspicious-Shower-57 1 day ago
Pretty sure the navy does PCS orders for people on ship. Like you’ll check in, to a ship lol. I could be wrong though.
0
LandMooseReject 1 day ago -5
But if they quit now they wouldn't get to warcrime anyone, so that defeats the whole purpose of joining the US military 
-5
Old_Management_1997 1 day ago +311
Someone just put a 750k bet on there being a ground invasion. This shhh far from over.
311
Guest_0_ 1 day ago +124
Considering Iran just closed the strait again due to Israel shelling Lebanon it's anyone's guess to wtf is actually happening. Probably nothing good.
124
Alt4rEg0 1 day ago +45
What? Already?
45
Guest_0_ 1 day ago +65
Looks that way. Independent media is reporting on it, every ship seems to be turning around. But who the hell knows, by the time I type this something could have changed.
65
dr_jones_sir 1 day ago +38
“Video shows ships turning away from the Strait of Hormuz as confusion persists over whether sea lane is really open” https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/17/iran-trump-strait-hormuz-oil-tanker-traffic.html
38
Yvaelle 1 day ago +9
Iranian Foreign Minister also tweeted a couple hours ago that, 'he has no idea who Trump was talking to today, but it wasn't Iran', and that the claimed terms of negotiation were ridiculous.
9
Fast-Satisfaction482 1 day ago -2
Iran is also making up terms that the US allegedly has agreed to. It's a complete mess. 
-2
very_anonymous 1 day ago +8
That’s impossible, Trump tweeted that Bibi isn’t allowed to do that any more. You don’t really think Bibi would ignore a tweet, do you?
8
Any-Monk-9395 1 day ago -10
Iran can’t just keep opening and closing the strait every time Israel bombs a country. I suspect America will be forced to take further military action against Iran and it will not be pretty.
-10
DanialE 1 day ago +2
If US-Isr didnt make treatises in bad faith, we wouldnt be in this situation. Iran got attacked during peace negotiations twice. Last year they even had their negotiators killed in Oman. US-Isr are not the good guys in this war
2
topdownyeti 1 day ago +61
the fact that Iran is making kids go to online school starting April 21st should’ve been an obvious sign this war is far from over
61
user365735 1 day ago +12
Really? Is that when the ceasefire is over?
12
TheBestHawksFan 1 day ago +8
Sure is
8
SeaworthinessSome454 1 day ago -7
The internet is back on over there? No, no it is not. Saying that kids will shift to online on the 21st is a posturing/political play.
-7
Howzitgoin 1 day ago +7
So confident, but so wrong. Yes, a majority of Iran is disconnected from the global Internet. That means the “switches” connecting them outside the country are off, but the national intranet is still very much alive, just at a degraded level because we’ve been bombing their communications. This network can support schooling, connecting outside their own country isn’t necessary to allow for online schooling/banking/etc. But yes, this likely posturing and political.
7
Mountain_Tune_7092 1 day ago +37
Good f****** God, I'm pretty sure you can say shit here
37
Longwaytofall 1 day ago +24
Glad I’m not the only one who’s annoyed as f*** from this terminally online self censorship trend. The cutesy emojis representing r***, murder, suicide, etc are particularly ridiculous. Just say the f****** word.
24
TheWaterBottler 1 day ago +13
Not saying the word downplays the meaning. It’s f****** stupid
13
Longwaytofall 1 day ago +12
Exactly. Not to mention I instantly assume you’re a 14 year old when you so eloquently espouse your position on the societal culture of 🍇. Want to talk about real world adult topics? Express yourself like an adult.
12
MercantileReptile 1 day ago +3
Same reaction to people mentioning PDF Files. Took me a moment to understand why the file type might be an issue in the US government. Then made me unreasonably angry at the person using the self-censorship.
3
newontheblock99 1 day ago +4
I mean, on YouTube and Instagram, and probably TikTok, they can pull your content if you do. However, this is f****** Listnook and it doesn’t f****** matter.
4
TheSleepingNinja 1 day ago +2
!bet t all
2
jadedflux 1 day ago +2
Can I ask where they put the bet? Like which app?
2
Count-to-3 1 day ago +5
750k is peanuts
5
creamgetthemoney1 1 day ago +16
Yeah seriously. Could be any number of obnoxiously wealthy people who have only gotten more wealthy in the last year as the everyday American is taking pay cuts due to inflation and stagnate wages. But no tax on tips and overtime that expire in a few years make everything ok for dumbass Americans. While the wealthy tax cuts last forever. Can’t wait to clock in for my 18th 10-hour shift in 21 days. I have extra play money but I’m dead tired and have knee arthritis at age 38. I have become a slave to the system. Never thought I would. Interest is the new slavery. It’s crazy
16
beekeeper1981 1 day ago +4
It's like $50 to a billionaire compared to the average person.
4
Caymonki 1 day ago +3
Nah not even It’s free money to a billionaire. Their money makes money
3
n0respect_ 1 day ago +1
Thanks Sean Connery
1
waffle-paladin1 1 day ago +1
Where do you see this? I don’t know how the prediction market works.
1
DanialE 1 day ago +1
I wont bet money, but the whole direction is that way. Its always troops sent to the middle east but no news of troops going back. Something fishy is here. Iran would be rightful to say US-Isr cannot be trusted. Remember when trump said "4 weeks" in early march? 4 weeks later it is April 1st
1
Oldfriend-9440 20 hr ago +1
That will be another Trump insider trade
1
LandMooseReject 1 day ago +1
Shhh. Don't want anyone to hear you.
1
pairofdimeshift92 1 day ago -15
Stop legitimizing betting sites by treating them as actual sources.
-15
DenseMud128 1 day ago +20
I mean, if someone has insider knowledge it is a source, with all the insider trading at this point you can’t ignore it.
20
pairofdimeshift92 1 day ago -10
Or it’s an investment in making you believe a certain narrative. You have no context for any bet made on one of these bullshit markets, so whatever “information” you glean from observing the bets it’s worse less than nothing.
-10
DenseMud128 1 day ago +7
Or you can look at all the military equipment being flown over and realize things are about to go down probably.
7
Total_Language3629 1 day ago -3
Stop arguing with Listnook, it’s not worth it, you won’t make a change by telling 1 user to stop legitimize betting websites. Listnook is Listnook, they don’t change, they just find the next target
-3
The_Motley_Fool---- 1 day ago +1
Even though I agree with your take on Listnook, I’m obligated through the Listnook hive mind connection to issue you a downvote. Sorry fellow listnookor
1
Chronoapatia 1 day ago +4
Why tho? There's more pros and zero cons
4
Panelak_Cadillac 1 day ago +6
The pros are cons.
6
pairofdimeshift92 1 day ago -10
There are only cons and no pros. You are subjecting yourself to being manipulated by people making bets to create a false narrative. By sharing that false narrative, you are perpetrating and legitimizing whatever manipulation you yourself were a victim to.
-10
Thoajin 1 day ago +9
So instead of assessing the flow of assets into the area and the multiple other examples of large bets being placed before events are announced, we’re supposed to entertain your conspiracy theory about people placing large bets to “push a false narrative” because trust me bro?
9
pairofdimeshift92 1 day ago -2
Because you are actively being a sucker by engaging with a rigged system.
-2
creamgetthemoney1 1 day ago -3
You’re correct. They’re dumbasses who will lose money if they’re actually participating in predictive markets.
-3
creamgetthemoney1 1 day ago -4
Lmaoooooo. You sound just like the kalishi & polymerket C.E.O / C.O.O in every single interview about predictive markets. A bunch a dumbass long words that mean nothing to make it seem out of comprehension for the everyday American. It’s pretty simple. Another grift for insiders to cash in.
-4
Old_Management_1997 1 day ago
I mean obviously take it with a grain of salt but weve seen time and time again that someone makes a massive bet and a day or two later it comes to fruition. Thete with so much inside info going around, the WH had to warn their staff to stop.
0
Glittering-Quote-635 1 day ago +90
Christ.. those poor sailors. Trump and Hegseth look at these ships like board game pieces. They have full capability at all times and you can indefinitely move them around the board with zero consequences for how long you do that.
90
EgoTripWire 1 day ago +28
60% of them voted for this.
28
Play3rKn0wn 1 day ago +2
I wonder though if extended deployments like this also increase the time for which a ship is OOS when it comes back to port to restock. If so they might have to weight the cost/benefit of keeping it there any longer. I don’t know enough about carrier logistics though.
2
LevoiHook 1 day ago +2
Why isn't crew rotation a thing?
2
Wurm42 1 day ago +5
Partly because operating a carrier is incredibly complicated, and routinely swapping out crew members while the carrier is at sea would be really disruptive. Mostly because these days, the Navy sees enlisted crew members as disposable, easily replaceable assets, and doesn't really care about keeping them happy, or even psychologically healthy. Or hell, this month, they seem fine with leaving the crews half-starved and malnourished. But even before the Iran war, this attitude was starting to bite the Navy in the ass. Re-enlistment rates for shipboard MOSs (jobs) have been dropping for years, and it's getting harder to recruit good candidates for the more demanding jobs, like running the onboard nuclear reactor. I expect that the re-enlistment rate for the current crew on the Ford will be almost zero. Every rule about deployment length has been broken (twice now!), the ship made the absolute bare minimum repairs after the laundry fire (with no shore leave!), and now they're headed back into a combat zone while some crew members are still hot-swapping bunks. At least the Ford got some resupply while they were in Greece for repairs; it appears that they're doing better on food than a lot of the ships that were hastily deployed to the Persian Gulf.
5
Loki-L 1 day ago +3
They only do that on submarines not surface vessels. Usually the ship needs as much downtime and rest and relaxation as the crew anyway.
3
Adventurous_Bit1325 1 day ago +11
At least they are likely being paid more for being in a war zone. I don’t know that for sure, but was my experience. Also sets them up for better benefits when they get out. Carriers are like little cities. I feel for the sailors on the support ships. I was on one, and extended time on a destroyer really sucks.
11
creamgetthemoney1 1 day ago +48
Ok navy recruiter. I mean the population you can say is like a little city. But to say a floating piece of metal has amenities like a little city is one of the silliest things ppl do. Like sailors are still sleeping in coffin tight beds. Showering in bullshit showers. Food made by a chef with like 15 square feet of area from food that half is processed junk. Completely like a little city
48
Ludwigofthepotatoppl 1 day ago +17
Steak and lobster a month ago! Burger patty, carrot slices, and what i can only assume they call “stink meat” now.
17
Adventurous_Bit1325 1 day ago +10
lol. I couldn’t get out of the navy fast enough, but that was in 1971-72, so there were reasons.didn’t say anything about amenities, just pointing out that there are other smaller ships that go with the carrier with people who are in a more difficult and uncomfortable situation.
10
Calm-Sun6538 1 day ago +1
Yes and there are children with flies on their faces starving in Africa. People existing with worse lives than you, does not trivialize your own struggles.
1
Impressive-Weird-908 1 day ago -2
Why are you so mad that someone pointed out the benefits of the situation for the sailors?
-2
Long_Confidence_4996 1 day ago +7
Because they usually only get paid ~$300-1,000 per month more. Since they were extended they’ve really only had 2-3 months of these “extra benefits”. Meanwhile they haven’t seen their family in a year, they have been stuck on a boat for a year, and they have unexpectedly been in a warzone for the last 3 months. When they deployed last June their family thought they were going on a standard deployment. Now they’re stuck in a warzone with no end in sight. They had no way to prepare their families for this.
7
Impressive-Weird-908 1 day ago +2
Yeah I mean we all get that but one guy says “well when I got deployed we got an extra bonus while out there” and you just started foaming at the mouth. It’s like everyone has to be angry at everything or it just pisses you off.
2
grathontolarsdatarod 1 day ago +1
Well, did people really belief trump when he said no wars? They should had known this wasn't going to be a normal deployment. Harassing US allies, agitating the domestic population, sewing decent, literally making fun of people that serve in the military?.... They didn't stop to think he was going to take the show on the road? Sucks to suck and be at war, but they, and their families, ought to have known they were expendable as soon as trump hit the campaign trail...
1
Calm-Sun6538 1 day ago
It’s trivializing and condescending
0
Glittering-Quote-635 1 day ago +1
I hope they are getting paid a ton.
1
MagicBoyUK 1 day ago +62
They threatening to dump the blocked toilets in Iranian waters?
62
DontDoxxMeHomie 1 day ago +16
They're going to use Iranian waters as a toilet *because* the toilets are blocked. Asses hanging over aircraft elevators.
16
Fo0ker 1 day ago +8
I mean, the term poop deck exists for a reason...
8
Idiot_Savant_13 1 day ago +2
There's a "shafted" joke here somewhere...
2
creamgetthemoney1 1 day ago +1
Would actually be a power move if you could anticipate the current. Pull up with an aircraft carrier. Have every sailer ass over edge and take a shit. Shit water flows to Iranian cost. I know it doesn’t serve any purpose other than “I can do what I want “ ….which seems to be the MO of our orange king
1
ViolettaQueso 1 day ago +2
We got your B 💩 MB right here baby.
2
justabill71 1 day ago +2
Strait of More Poos
2
Wurm42 1 day ago
Eh, the marine life in the Persian Gulf has seen some shit. Back in the 1980s, the Iran-Iraq War started with each side blowing up the other side's oil terminals. There were massive oil spills, with minimal cleanup efforts because of the fighting. Iraq also used chemical weapons in that war, and some of those chemical agents wound up in the Gulf. The marine life that's left there won't be phased by a little shipboard raw sewage. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93Iraq_War?wprov=sfla1
0
ClaytonRook 1 day ago +32
Why do they all have these stupid names? Should be USS Riley Reid
32
62frog 1 day ago +22
Democracy: “oh yeah f****** spread it”
22
ltalix 1 day ago +5
Speak softly and carry a *big stick*
5
ClaytonRook 1 day ago +1
Speak harder daddy
1
1ns3rtn1ckn4m3 21 hr ago +1
~~big stick~~ small d*** diplomacy
1
my_name_is_juice 1 day ago +3
Psh like you've never jerked off to Gerald Ford
3
AlamutJones 1 day ago +13
Just send them home. They’ve been out for nearly a year, they’re exhausted
13
Atiaxra 1 day ago +21
Permanent ceasefire behaviour
21
SwvellyBents 1 day ago +12
Solving the toilet problem by cutting back on food portions for the sailors is pure Hegseth genius.
12
2stepsfwd59 1 day ago +15
I don't believe anything DOD says as long as Hollywood Holy Warrior is in charge. The Bush went around Africa to get there. I don't believe any of them are in the Red Sea, unless they are hoping the Houthi will sink the Ford so they can replace instead of repair. Circus Circus.
15
Redditkid16 1 day ago +7
At the rate we build ships these days, they’d probably have to extend Nimitz’s corpse for another decade if that happened
7
EmperorSadrax 1 day ago +2
At this point we might as well recommission mighty mo
2
Steamsagoodham 1 day ago +1
Them going through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea would be extremely easy to verify. It’s also been a normal area for carriers to operate in for operations against the Houthis for the last two east coast carriers. The BAM is the one that would be more risky to transit and is most likely the reason the Bush is transiting around it.
1
physedka 1 day ago +15
The Ford is a serious escalation. Lincoln and Bush that are already in the area are older boats that have been retrofitted to stay relevant. But not the Ford. That's our latest and greatest force projector. If they're putting her out there in harms way, then they're either preparing for serious warfare or hoping for the mother of all provocative attacks to justify their war. 
15
hellswaters 1 day ago +16
She has been there since Venezuela. Being involved in the theater isn't new to it, the ship just needed some repairs because of a fire that took 30 hours to put out. But apparently the situation warrants having the longest carrier deployment ever, even on a ship that was burning and crew sleeping on tables.
16
kombiwombi 1 day ago +10
I would be careful not to confuse size with usefulness. The US has a lot of large ships in the area. The USS Ford cost $14B, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are $2B. Neither of those can approach the Gulf, as the financial risk from asymmetric warfare is too great. The US Navy has a large gap where a c**** frigate should be. The aircraft carriers are not doing force projection in a classical sense, as US bases in Saudi Arabia are just there. The main benefit is that as a non-stationary airfield they are harder to hit with drones. I don't understand why the US Navy has not sent the USS Ford home. The essential technology of a aircraft carrier is not its systems but the information transferral between generations of crew. USS Ford is a new ship, and if the crew disperse because of a nightmare voyage, then the next crew find themselves essentially recomissioning the ship.
10
Venkman_P 1 day ago +10
\>I don't understand why the US Navy has not sent the USS Ford home... Because the people currently at the top don't give a shit about those in uniform, don't understand the first thing about military readiness or morale, and don't plan farther out than their next meal.
10
LandMooseReject 1 day ago
As long as they don't have to run any clothes dryers
0
greenweenievictim 1 day ago +3
The administration has fucked with readiness in ways that they will never understand by keeping this ship on station.
3
are-e-el 1 day ago +3
mmmm more grey mystery meat on the menu!
3
SambaPapi1 1 day ago +2
The clowniest world war yet.
2
JaVelin-X- 1 day ago +1
they now have clean underwear and can continue the war
1
Own-Professor-6157 1 day ago +1
Impossible. Iran blew it up over 10 times now!
1
AcrobaticMistake2468 1 day ago +1
I thought the war was over. Like Covid half a decade ago Would just Disappear!
1
No_Method5989 1 day ago +2
Make sure they have some good f****** food this time Jesus H Christ make one less missle the USA budget for military is ridonculous. how sad is it they had to go to social media. Prisoners get better meals. What f*** are they doing? If anything, It LOOKS f****** bad. Largest miltary in the world and you can only give them like half a tortilla with the left over beef, scrapped from the floors of the factory. Like bruh REALLY? Like seriously what f*** is this even? [https://www.themirror.com/news/us-news/warship-crew-served-gray-object-1794876](https://www.themirror.com/news/us-news/warship-crew-served-gray-object-1794876)
2
Additional_Quiet2600 1 day ago +2
This administration will cut every corner and tell you that they are being treated better than anyone on the planet. They lie by default. If they speak, there is a lie present. If there is a controversy that they refute, it's a lie. Damn near every single time.
2
rizzyrogues 1 day ago +1
Carrots, mold and I have no idea wtf the thing on the left is. I'd just eat the fork.
1
Hydrok 1 day ago -1
They don’t even have enough food to get back to an American port right now, I wonder what the resupply logistics looks like?
-1
Steamsagoodham 1 day ago +2
Much better in the Red Sea than the Arabia Sea. Ships get resupplied from smaller ships in local ports.
2
Apprehensive_Art6060 1 day ago
Mission Accomplished!
0
Salnugs 1 day ago -10
Those pedophiles are still Sexmaxxing our kids and grandkids
-10
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