ARABIAN SEA: USS George Washington destroyers are operating around the U.S. aircraft carrier to provide air defence during heightened tensions in the Middle East, according to Fox News reporting from the carrier group.
Chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst reported from the USS George Washington and the guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup, detailing how escort vessels monitor the airspace and respond to potential incoming threats.
The supplied account says four to five guided-missile destroyers can surround the carrier during operations. Their duties include tracking targets, coordinating defensive assets and using surface-to-air systems to protect the strike group.
LIVE FROM THE ARABIAN SEA: Fox News' @TreyYingst reported from aboard the USS George Washington as fighter jets launched one after another into the night.
The carrier is operating alongside guided-missile destroyers tasked with protecting the strike group as Iran ramps up… pic.twitter.com/iRtEPE1DcQ
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 12, 2026
The USS Shoup also carries Tomahawk cruise missiles and operates with a crew of just over 300 sailors.
The George Washington carries roughly 5,000 personnel and supports ongoing flight operations from its deck. The supplied material places the carrier group near strategic waterways including the Strait of Hormuz.
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Guided-missile destroyers are operating around the USS George Washington in the Arabian Sea to provide air defence and protection against incoming threats, according to Fox News.