The United States is sending another aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East, which could raise the total number of carriers in the region to three.

The deployment was reported by officials cited in The Wall Street Journal.

The USS George H.W. Bush left Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia on Tuesday with its accompanying warships.

This carrier is part of the Nimitz class, Ynet News has reported.

It is expected to take several weeks for the strike group to arrive in the region.