US carrier strike group ready on station in Arabian Sea as tensions with Iran run hot

As tensions rise with Iran, the United States has now amassed a sizeable force in the Middle East.

The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group is in the Arabian Sea – and one of its jets has already shot down an Iranian drone.

The carrier air wing includes F/A-18 Super Hornet, Growler and F-35 Lightning II aircraft capable of striking the Iranian navy and deep into Iran.

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Offensive and defensive capabilities bolstered

The strike group also includes three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, each of which carries Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of over 1,000 miles.

There are two more Arleigh Burke destroyers in the Persian Gulf and Straits of Hormuz.

The US has also reinforced bases in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Dozens of transport flights are believed to have brought in additional Patriot and Thaad air defence systems, which are capable of intercepting Iranian ballistic missiles.

Ability to strike from the north and the south

Meanwhile, US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles have flown from the UK to Jordan.

Jordan and Israel are geographically closer to Tehran in northern Iran than the Lincoln carrier group in the Arabian Sea.

The US is thought to have another Arleigh Burke destroyer in the eastern Mediterranean, plus an Ohio-class submarine capable of carrying over 150 cruise missiles.

The UK has also moved four RAF Typhoon fighters to Qatar.

A Royal Navy Astute-class submarine left Gibraltar in late January and could now be in the eastern Mediterranean.