The USS Nimitz strike group is deploying to the Middle East amid ongoing strikes between Israel and Iran that threaten to develop into a broader conflict, a U.S. defense official confirmed Monday.

The Nimitz aircraft carrier group was rerouted from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East, joining the USS Carl Vinson. The move comes amid airstrikes between Israel and Iran.

The U.S. military is also sending aircraft to the Middle East and Europe in case they are needed to support U.S. installations overseas.