U.S. officials have announced that the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford will be temporarily leaving its military operations against Iran in the Red Sea and heading to Souda Bay in Crete, Greece, for maintenance and repairs. Though the duration of the carrier's stay in Greece has not been clarified, reports indicate that the extent of damage caused by a recent fire aboard the ship is greater than what was officially disclosed by the military. Notably, around 200 sailors received treatment for injuries related to smoke inhalation, and the fire took several hours to extinguish, affecting about 100 berths on the vessel.

The U.S. military reported that the fire occurred in the main laundry rooms of the carrier, explicitly denying any connection with ongoing combat operations. This incident follows nearly ten months of continuous deployment of the Ford in the region, well beyond the standard six-month operational period. The carrier was initially deployed to the Middle East after participating in operations related to Venezuela, with planned repairs in Virginia now being postponed as the ship was redirected to engage in the conflict with Iran.

Extended periods of deployment such as this can significantly impact the operational readiness of the carrier, which has a crew of around 5,000 sailors, some of whom are reportedly experiencing burnout and fatigue. The move to return to Greece for repairs has raised concerns about the strategic readiness of U.S. naval assets in the region amid ongoing tensions with Iran, reflecting broader anxieties regarding military preparedness and personnel well-being within the U.S. Navy.