The Biden administration beefed up the U.S. military presence there to help defend Israel from possible attacks by Iran and its proxies and to safeguard U.S. troops.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had ordered the Roosevelt to extend its deployment for a short time and remain in the region as the USS Abraham Lincoln was pushed to get to the area more quickly.

The aircraft carrier has been operating in the Gulf of Oman with the USS Abraham Lincoln, another San Diego-based carrier.

The carrier has been operating alongside the Abraham Lincoln in recent weeks amid fears of war breaking out between Israel and Iran.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) is heading back to San Diego after an extended deployment in the Middle East. Since October, the U.S. Navy has bolstered its carrier presence in the region in response to tensions following the Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel.

The United States had both aircraft carrier battle groups on-site for nearly three weeks, as a show of support for Israel during its ongoing war with Hamas.