US weighs Iran strikes as 20,000 troops and 150 jets prepare for Middle East buildup

The United States is preparing a potential major military buildup in the Middle East, with up to three aircraft carriers and escorts, totaling nearly 20,000 troops and 150 fighter jets, as President Donald Trump weighs resuming large-scale strikes against Iran. The carriers under consideration are the USS George Washington, USS George H.W. Bush, and USS Theodore Roosevelt, with the latter departing San Diego on September 27. The buildup could serve as either a reinforcement for renewed hostilities or a routine rotation, as the George H.W. Bush has been deployed since March and the Abraham Lincoln is returning home. The planning comes amid the ongoing Iran war, which began February 28, with over 800 US troops wounded and at least 19 killed. Trump stated in a TIME interview that increased bombing after November midterm elections is "possible," though no decision for a new offensive has been announced.