U.S. Destroyer Delbert D. Black Arrives in the Middle East
USS Delbert D. Black guided-missile destroyer joins U.S. forces in Middle East after Suez Canal transit, boosting regional naval presence to 10 warships including Abraham Lincoln carrier group.
The USS Delbert D. Black (DDG-119), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, has recently joined U.S. naval assets in the Middle East, confirming reports of its arrival in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility.
The ship, which departed Naval Station Mayport, Florida, on January 3, 2026, for a scheduled deployment, entered the region after transiting through the Suez Canal, as tracked by ship-monitoring data.
This move increases the U.S. Navy's presence in the CENTCOM area to at least 10 warships, including the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group.
The destroyer provides capabilities for missile and drone defense, as well as strike operations, amid escalating tensions with Iran.
It began patrolling in the U.S. 6th Fleet area, which includes the Eastern Mediterranean, after departing Las Palmas, Spain, on January 19, 2026.