US aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford departs Croatian port after repairs

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, departed the Croatian port city of Split on Thursday after a five-day port visit during which it completed scheduled repairs and received supplies.

"Gerald R. Ford remains poised for full mission tasking in support of national objectives in any area of operation," the US Navy said.

An investigation into a fire that broke out in the ship's laundry and berthing facilities on March 12 remains ongoing, it added.

The Ford had been operating in the Red Sea as part of the joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran before docking at Souda Bay, Greece, for initial assessments, then proceeding to Split for further repairs.

The carrier's return to active duty could give Washington three carrier strike groups operating in the Middle East, should it resume its previous area of operations.

The USS Abraham Lincoln is currently operating in the Arabian Sea, while the USS George H.W. Bush departed Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia earlier this week and headed to the Middle East, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The US and Israel have conducted strikes on Iran since Feb. 28, killing more than 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.