Photos of meager meals served to American soldiers deployed in the Middle East spark debate on l

As the US military deployment in the Middle East shows no signs of stopping, parents of soldiers are worried about the supplies on the ships where their children are located, reports the American newspaper USA Today on Thursday, April 16. The newspaper notably publishes two photos of particularly meager meal trays, received by the relatives of soldiers on two US Navy ships, which have provoked strong reactions.

One of the photos shows a tray two-thirds empty, with shredded meat and a flatbread, obtained by USA Today from the father of a crew member on the USS Tripoli. This ship and two others have left Japan over a month ago, carrying 3,500 people on board, and are now deployed as part of the blockade of Iranian ports at the request of Donald Trump.

According to her father, this soldier mentioned in her few messages to her family that the crew members are rationing their provisions, fresh products are no longer part of the menu, and hygiene products are also running low. Another soldier on the USS Tripoli fears that the troops’ morale will reach “historically low levels” and does not believe the ship will be able to resupply in a port before the end of the operation, according to a message sent on April 11 to his mother, also seen by USA Today.

The newspaper also publishes a photograph sent to his family in mid-April by a sailor from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, also deployed in the region. On this other meal tray, there are a few boiled carrots, a ground steak, and a slice of processed meat whose exact nature remains hard to define. “The food is bland, and there’s far from enough of it, and [the soldiers] are always hungry,” a pastor from West Virginia told USA Today, who received this information from a faithful member whose son is on this same aircraft carrier.

With the help of her community, she has already sent 22 packages to the troops of the USS Lincoln, but only six arrived in Tokyo on April 14, and none reached the ship. The US postal services have suspended deliveries to 27 military ZIP codes in the Middle East due to the closure of airspace and “other disruptions,” according to an army spokesperson. This system usually allows packages to be sent to soldiers on mission. The packages are being held until further notice, depriving military personnel of much-awaited comfort.

These discussions come at a time when the US is increasing its large-scale deployments. Over 10,000 US military personnel are participating in operations in the waters of the Middle East, according to US Central Command, with twelve ships and over 100 aircraft. The USS Gerald Ford, initially mobilized in the operation in Venezuela and currently off the coast of Crete, has already set the record for the longest deployment of a US aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War. Sunday marks the 300th day of its mission.

These few testimonies alone do not allow an accurate assessment of the real food stocks on board the deployed ships in the Middle East. However, the photos released by USA Today have already stirred up passions on military forums, either to denounce the incompetence of the army or to challenge the seriousness of the accusations. “I know everyone is making an effort, but our military deserves much better than that,” commented Randy Fine, a Maga movement figure and member of the House of Representatives, by sharing the images of the meal trays. He added that he will work “with the army to resolve the problem as quickly as possible.”

The Pentagon has not yet responded to the American press and has not answered questions from Franceinfo. Meanwhile, Iranian authorities have also seized the opportunity for propaganda. “No treats for American infantrymen in Israel,” quipped the Iranian embassy in Sierra Leone.