USS Nimitz was told last week to linger in the Indian Ocean. Reports: USS Nimitz moves to region

The U.S. has moved its aircraft carrier the USS Nimitz to the Red Sea, multiple news outlets reported Monday, but it has been given no specific orders on Syria.

The carrier and destroyers part of its strike force were supposed to head home after an Afghanistan support deployment in the Arabian Sea, but last week were told to linger in the Indian Ocean. They are being moved west into the Red Sea, which borders Syria neighbors Israel and Jordan, for “prudent positioning,” a defense official told ABC News.


Reuters first reported the move Sunday night, and CNN has also confirmed it.

Officials told the news outlets that the group of naval ships has no specific orders to act, but can do so if needed.

The ships could possibly support or join the five destroyers positioned in the eastern Mediterranean Sea that are considered the primary origin of a military strike on Syria.