Harrison Kass
US carrier strike groups (CSGs) have surged into the Middle East as tensions with Iran increase. As Washington threatens action over Iranian internal repressions, the question becomes: what would a carrier-led strike against Iran actually look like?
A carrier campaign against Iran would likely be limited, precision-focused, and integrated with long-range assets—not a full-scale invasion, but a calibrated coercive strike roughly akin to the mission that captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro in early January.
The US Has Been Fighting Wars Off of Aircraft Carriers for Decades
US carrier operations in the Middle East have precedent. Operation Praying Mantis in 1988 featured naval and air strikes against Iranian assets in retaliation for the mining of US warships. During the Iraq War, carrier air wings provided sustained strike tempo. And during the campaign against ISIS, carriers operated in the Persian Gulf, launching sorties daily. The historical takeaway is that carriers can serve as mobile, sovereign airbases, reducing dependence on regional bases and providing persistent strike capability.
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