United States Navy officials announced the deployment of a powerful carrier strike group to the Strait of Hormuz in an effort to protect freedom of navigation and remind Iran of America's naval presence, Fox News reported Monday.
The contingent of ships, consisting of aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, two guided-missile cruisers, and a destroyer, will operate in the strategically vital strait this week.
"The [carrier strike group] will operate and train alongside regional and coalition partners, and provide naval aviation support to Operation Inherent Resolve," the U.S. Fifth Fleet said in a statement.
By moving the fleet near Iranian territory, the Navy is now capable of carrying out rapid airborne strikes on key military and technological installations in Iran.
Originating in 2014, the Operation Inherent Resolve campaign targets ISIS and other terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria. Iran has been implicated in supporting proxy groups in the region that target U.S. and coalition troops.
The Strait of Hormuz has been a hotbed of aggressive Iranian activity in recent months. Over the summer, Iranian forces staged the destruction of a mock aircraft carrier and boarded a Liberian oil tanker.
The Trump administration continues to take action to curb Iran's power. In recent weeks, Washington brokered the signing of multiple historic peace deals favoring Israel and Gulf States opposed to Iran. Washington has also unleashed a series of snapback sanctions that stand to limit Iran’s ability to improve and build up its military power.