Michael R Gordon The New York Times

Starting in early October - and for the first time since 2007 - the United States did not have an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf, as the Navy needed time to carry out repairs to its fleet. So the French agreed to deploy their only carrier to fill part of that gap.

Starting in early October - and for the first time since 2007 - the United States did not have an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf, as the Navy needed time to carry out repairs to its fleet. So the French agreed to deploy their only carrier to fill part of that gap.