Spring Sailor Deployed to Middle East

ARABIAN SEA - Spring Sailor, Gabriel Orisa, is deployed with USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to the Middle East region in response to indications of heightened Iranian readiness to conduct offensive operations against U.S. forces and our interests.

The Department of Defense continues to closely monitor the activities of the Iranian regime, their military and proxies. Due to operational security, DoD will not discuss timelines or location of forces.

According to the Department of Defense news release, 'The United States does not seek conflict with Iran, but we are postured and ready to defend U.S. forces and interests in the region.'

PHOTO: Airman Leeangelo Ribu, from Oceanside, Calif., and Airman Gabriel Orisa, from Spring, Texas, test fuel samples on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. With Abraham Lincoln as the flagship, deployed strike group assets include staffs, ships and aircraft of Carrier Strike Group 12 (CSG 12), Destroyer Squadron 2 (DESRON 2), USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) and Carrier Air Wing 7 (CVW 7). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jeff Sherman/Released)