AFP journalists saw the vessel arriving on Saturday morning as it headed toward the port, with the embassy saying the visit was part of a “scheduled port call and maintenance”. The carrier left a naval base in Crete this week after returning there following a laundry fire onboard that injured two crew members. “During its visit, the USS Gerald R. Ford will host local officials and key leaders to recognise the strong and enduring alliance between the United States and Croatia,” the embassy statement said. The United States and Israel launched a massive air campaign against Iran in late February following a major US military buildup in the Middle East that included the Gerald R. Ford and another aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln. Both ships — which have air wings made up of dozens of aircraft — have played key roles in operations involving Iran, and the departure of the Gerald R. Ford leaves a gap in US force presence in the region.  (Bssnews)