The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and its escort ships are expected to head from the Caribbean to the Middle East, three U.S. officials told CBS News, adding a second aircraft carrier to the region as tensions between the U.S. and Iran continue to simmer. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio explains what this could mean. | CBS News

The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), the world’s largest aircraft carrier, was seen transiting the Strait of Gibraltar as it heads toward the Middle East. The deployment comes as the United States increases its military presence in the region amid rising tensions with Iran. The movement of the carrier signals a bolstering of U.S. naval operations in strategically sensitive waters. #USSGeraldRFord | #AircraftCarrier | #straitofgibraltar | #middleeast | #iran | #RepublicWorld | Republic

The US Navy's newest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, successfully launched and recovered a fighter jet for the first time. http://cnn.it/2vi7tCm | CNN International

Sailors from the USS Gerald R. Ford are arriving in St. Thomas for several days of rest and recuperation, stepping off the massive aircraft carrier onto smaller boats before heading ashore. The world’s largest warship brings more than 4,000 personnel to the territory, giving St. Thomas an immediate economic lift as crew members, officers, and visiting families fan out across the island. Hotels, restaurants, taxis, and tour operators are all seeing a surge as the carrier settles in for its multi-