WASHINGTON (AP) - Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and one other warship to remain in the Mediterranean Sea for several more weeks, U.S. officials said, as Israel's war with Hamas continues. This marks the third time the Ford's deployment has been extended, highlighting ongoing concerns about the volatility in the region. The U.S. has deployed two aircraft carriers near Israel, a rarity in recent years.

The Ford and the USS Normandy cruiser have received longer deployments, as approved by the Pentagon this week. These extensions follow previous decisions to extend the deployments of other ships in the Ford's strike group. The intention behind ramping up military presence in the region was to deter Iran from escalating the conflict into a wider regional dispute.

Since Hamas' attacks on Oct. 7, Iranian-backed militants in Iraq and Syria have taken advantage of the ongoing war to regularly launch rocket, drone, and missile attacks on U.S. military installations. Additionally, U.S. warships in the Red Sea have intercepted incoming missiles fired from Yemen, where Iranian-backed Houthi rebels hold control. They have also successfully defended against attack drones and provided assistance to commercial vessels frequently targeted by the Houthis near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Presently, there are a total of 19 U.S. warships in the region, with seven stationed in the eastern Mediterranean and 12 others spread across the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Persian Gulf.

The decision to keep the USS Gerald R. Ford, the newest aircraft carrier in the Navy, in the region coincides with Israel's defense minister, Yoav Gallant, predicting a protracted war against Hamas that may take months to conclude. Despite discussions between U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Israeli leaders to establish a timeline for winding down major combat in Gaza, there is a shared determination to continue the fight until Hamas is dismantled.

The Ford's approximately 5,000 sailors eagerly await a decision from the Pentagon regarding their holiday leave. Originally scheduled to return to Norfolk, Virginia, by early November, the ship deployed to U.S. European Command in early May. The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier strike group was planned to replace the Ford in the region, however, Defense Secretary Austin decided to extend the Ford's deployment and have both carriers maintain a presence from southern Europe to the Middle East.

American aircraft carriers have long been touted by U.S. military commanders as an effective deterrent against attacks, hijackings, and other aggressive behavior by Iran and its ships. The increased naval presence of U.S. warships aims to counter strikes on commercial ships in the Red Sea orchestrated by the Houthi rebels.

Officials have stated that the Ford will remain in the Mediterranean for several more weeks. Meanwhile, the USS Eisenhower, along with the USS Philippine Sea, continues their patrol in the Middle East, while the USS Carney, USS Stethem, and USS Mason, all Navy destroyers, actively monitor the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to deter and respond to Houthi attacks.

While the U.S. has shifted its attention and naval presence to the Asia Pacific in recent years, the deployment of two aircraft carriers in the Middle East highlights the significance of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and the broader regional dynamics.