Three US aircraft carriers are operating in the Middle East simultaneously “for the first time in decades,” amid Washington’s naval blockade of Iranian ports, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on Friday. “For the first time in decades, three aircraft carriers are operating in the Middle East at the same time. 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,” CENTCOM said in an X post. The command said yesterday that US forces have directed 33 vessels to turn around or return to port since the start of the blockade.