["USS Ford" Aircraft Carrier to Depart Middle East and Return to the U.S. Soon] According to a report by Jinse Finance on April 30, multiple U.S. media outlets cited American officials on the 29th, stating that the U.S. Navy's "USS Ford" aircraft carrier strike group is expected to depart the Middle East and return to the United States in the coming days. According to *The Washington Post*, the exact departure time of the "USS Ford" from the Middle East remains unclear, but an American official indicated that the carrier is expected to return to Virginia by mid-May. Currently, the U.S. military has deployed three aircraft carrier strike groups in the Middle East: the "USS Lincoln," the "USS Ford," and the "USS Bush." The "USS Lincoln" and "USS Bush" strike groups are conducting maritime blockade operations on Iranian ports in the Arabian Sea. Since June of last year, the "USS Ford" has been continuously deployed at sea, participating in U.S. military operations against Venezuela and Iran, breaking the record for the longest aircraft carrier deployment by the U.S. Navy since the Vietnam War. On March 12, a fire broke out in the laundry room at the stern of the carrier, injuring three sailors and requiring over 200 sailors to receive treatment for smoke inhalation. The "USS Ford" was subsequently forced to leave the Middle East combat zone and underwent repairs and maintenance at ports in Greece and Croatia. On April 17, U.S. officials revealed that the "USS Ford" had returned to the Red Sea region to resume its mission. (*Xinhua News Agency*)