US warship reported heading toward Mideast as Iran, Israel strikes escalate

The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Nimitz is on its way out of Southeast Asia, heading toward the Middle East, reportedly to bolster U.S. military presence as tensions between Israel and Iran escalate.

According to Marine Traffic, the massive warship was seen transiting the Malacca Strait toward the Indian Ocean at approximately 13:45 GMT on Monday.

A planned port call in Vietnam has been abruptly called off. A Vietnamese government official confirmed to AFP that a scheduled reception on board the USS Nimitz, originally set for June 20 during a five-day visit to Danang (June 19–23), had been cancelled.

READ ALSO: Iran missile strikes kill 5, injure 92 in central Israel – MDA confirms

The official shared a letter from the US embassy announcing that the Defense Department was cancelling the event due to “an emergent operational requirement.”

The US Embassy in Hanoi declined to comment to AFP, as did a spokesman for the Nimitz.

The movement of one of the world’s largest warships came on day four of the escalating air war between Israel and Iran, with no end in sight despite international calls for de-escalation.

Israel’s strikes have so far killed at least 224 people, including top military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians, according to Iranian authorities.

In retaliation, Iran said it had struck Israel with a salvo of missiles and warned of “effective, targeted and more devastating operations” to come.

US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Monday said that Iran’s missile barrage had lightly damaged a building used by the American embassy in Tel Aviv.