The U.S. aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush and more than 50 attack aircraft are in the region of the Persian Gulf and available to launch attacks against militants in Iraq, Pentagon officials have confirmed.

Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said the Bush and an accompanying battle group of ships were "in the region and ready for tasking."

The nuclear-powered carrier deployed from Norfolk, Va., in February as part of its regular rotation to the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf.

"I also think it's important to remember that we have some 35,000 U.S. military personnel in the Middle East region," Kirby said. "Our forces there work closely each and every day with our partners to defend against external aggression and terrorist networks that threaten America and its allies."

If ordered by the president, the Bush could coordinate the attacks against the militant group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL. The group has overtaken several cities and routed some Iraqi armed forces in a wave of recent violence. The militants have captured the cities of Mosul and Tikrit and are moving towards Baghdad.

"Over the last 36 hours, the (Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel) has met a number of times with senior military leaders to discuss events on the ground and to prepare options for the president's consideration," Kirby said Friday. Without detailing the options, he said that they "cover a wide range of military capabilities and will be designed... to help break the momentum of ISIL's progress and bolster Iraqi security forces."

Any decision, he said "rests solely with the commander in chief."

Earlier in the day the president said he would no consider sending ground troops back into the country.

Kirby said the Department of Defense has concentrated on working to train and equip Iraqi security forces with an emphasis on increasing their capacity to defend themselves. In March, the Pentagon delivered 100 Hellfire missiles to Iraqi forces, bringing the total to about 300, in addition to millions of rounds of small-arms fire, tank ammunition and helicopter-fired rockets.

Additional armed Scout helicopters were already delivered to Iraq and an additional $1 billion in foreign military sales are planned.