World’s Largest US Aircraft Carrier Arrives off Israel as Washington Boosts Military Presence

The US aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest, has arrived off the coast of Israel, Israeli media reported on Friday, amid signs of an expanding US military buildup in the region.

According to Israeli Channel 12, the carrier reached Israeli shores without any official confirmation from the US military. The report said the deployment follows the arrival of around 20 US refuelling aircraft in Israel late on Thursday night.

Earlier, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported that four US KC-46A Pegasus refuelling aircraft had landed at Ben Gurion Airport, near Tel Aviv.

Israeli media say the movements form part of a wider US military reinforcement in the Middle East, driven by growing concerns over a potential military confrontation with Iran.

While Washington has made no formal announcement on the deployment, the arrival of major naval and air assets has intensified speculation about heightened regional tensions and the possibility of escalation involving US and allied forces.