<p>Another U.S. Navy aircraft carrier has departed from its home port in San Diego and is heading for the Middle East as President Donald Trump indicated that the military could resume offensive actions against Iran after the midterm elections.</p>
<p>The USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier left on a scheduled deployment on Sunday, while the USS Makin Island, which consists of three amphibious ships carrying Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, departed from the same port a day later, according to USNI News.</p>
<p>The USS George H.W. Bush and USS George Washington carrier strike groups are already in the Middle East. It is uncertain whether either will depart the region when the Roosevelt arrives. If they remain, it would mark the first time since April that three carrier strike groups are present in the region. Approximately 50,000 U.S. troops are currently stationed in the area, and the new carrier strike group would enhance options and firepower for the president.</p>
<p>The USS George Washington relieved the USS Abraham Lincoln in August, which had one of the longest naval deployments in decades.</p>
<p>“The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations,” Lt. Carolina Fernandez, a spokeswoman for U.S. Pacific Fleet, stated.</p>
<p>“An integral part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the region and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary to execute our Navy’s role across the full spectrum of military operations — from combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster response. U.S. 3rd Fleet works together with allies and partners to advance freedom of navigation and overflight, the rule of law, and other principles that underpin security for the region,” she continued.</p>
<p>The additional deployments may increase the strain on the Navy, which has been significantly involved in the ongoing conflict.</p>
<p>The Navy continues to enforce a blockade on Iranian ports, while the tens of thousands of service members in the region are prepared for a potential escalation of conflict at any moment.</p>
<p>Trump mentioned to Time magazine that it is “possible” he would authorize a renewed bombing campaign against Iran after the midterm elections, following his rejection of a recent Iranian proposal, which he deemed “not good enough.”</p>
<p>The estimated cost of the conflict with Iran is believed to exceed $40 billion. The Congressional Budget Office released an estimate in mid-September, stating that as of the beginning of August, the conflict had cost $38 billion, with monthly costs ranging from $2 billion to $3 billion as long as operations remain at similar levels to those observed from June through August.</p>
<p>Nineteen service members have been killed during the conflict, while over 800 have sustained injuries.</p>