U.S. shifts aircraft carrier closer to Israel, deploys aerial refueling tankers to Europe --Flight tracking radars showed over 30 refueling aircraft from the U.S. Air Force heading for Europe | 17 June 2025 | The United States has redirected an aircraft carrier from the South China Sea to the Middle East and deployed several aerial refueling tankers to Europe, U.S. officials told Al Arabiya English on Monday amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier will once again provide the U.S. military with a second carrier strike group, something which has been consistent since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack against Israel. The USS Carl Vinson arrived to the US Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility earlier this year, replacing the USS Harry S. Truman strike group... Overnight, flight tracking radars also showed over 30 refueling aircraft from the U.S. Air Force heading for Europe. U.S. defense officials confirmed these deployments were part of the plans the Pentagon had provided the Trump administration in the event they need to be used to defend U.S. assets in the Middle East.