The USS Theodore Roosevelt exited the Persian Gulf for maintenance early Friday, leaving the key body of water without a U.S. aircraft carrier for the first time since 2007.
The temporary measure comes as Russia steps up its presence in the region to lend muscle to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Russian forces began bombing targets in Syria last week, drawing criticism from the U.S. and its allies, who say that Russia is mainly targeting rebels fighting Assad instead of ISIS.
The U.S., which is conducting its own airstrikes against ISIS, will still be able to launch its planes from Turkey, Qatar and other coalition nations that have entered the fight against the radical group.
