USS Bataan Heads Towards Middle East Amid Tensions With Iran

An MH-60S Sea Hawk, assigned to the Dragon Whales of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28, places cargo on the flight deck of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD5) during a vertical replenishment between Bataan and the dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12) on Dec. 31, 2019. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kathryn E. Macdonald

The USS Bataan was heading closer to the Middle East amid tensions with Iran, the U.S. Naval Institute’s news service said.

The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship is based in Norfolk, Virginia. It was scheduled to take part in military exercises with Morocco but those were scrapped, prompting the redirection to the Middle East.