US sailors conducted nighttime flight operations aboard the USS George Washington as the aircraft carrier sailed through the Arabian Sea, highlighting the continued US military presence in the region amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.US Central Command (CENTCOM) shared images on Friday showing sailors working on the carrier’s flight deck during the operations.Carrier strike group operating in Middle EastThe USS George Washington (CVN 73) is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Its carrier strike group arrived in the US Central Command area on August 19 as part of a scheduled deployment.CENTCOM did not provide further details about the nighttime flight operations.The carrier's activities come as US forces maintain a significant naval presence in the region amid heightened tensions with Iran, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz.US forces redirect 68 commercial vesselsCENTCOM said US forces had redirected 68 commercial vessels, disabled three and boarded two as of August 21 as part of operations enforcing the US blockade against Iran.More than 20 warships are supporting the blockade, according to CENTCOM. The command also released images of an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter landing aboard the USS Ross.Earlier, US Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey aircraft operated from the USS Boxer as the amphibious assault ship transited the Arabian Sea.Hormuz shipping remains below normalMaritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains significantly below pre-war levels despite a recent increase in vessel movements.According to a CNN analysis of UK Maritime Trade Operations data, the number of ships crossing the waterway rose 27 per cent over the past week, but remained at only about 20 per cent of the seven-day pre-war average.The Strait is a critical route for global energy supplies and remains at the centre of the escalating confrontation between Washington and Tehran.