The fighter aircraft are intended to give air cover for the commercial ships moving through the waterway and increase the military’s visibility in the area, as a deterrent to Iran.
Iran tried to seize two oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz early this month, opening fire on one of them. There also have been A-10 attack aircraft there for several weeks in response to the Iranian activity.
The deployment comes on the heels of decisions in recent weeks to send the USS Thomas Hudner, a destroyer, and a number of F-35 and F-16 fighter jets to the region. It was unclear Thursday if all three ships would continue into the Gulf region. The group left Norfolk, Virginia, earlier this month.
Along with the Bataan, the group includes two other warships, the USS Mesa Verde and the USS Carter Hall.
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