The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt launched its first sorties this weekend in support of combat missions in Afghanistan. The strike group relieved the USS Ronald Reagan strike group as the main sea presence in the Middle East, according to a Navy news release.

Aircraft from Carrier Air Wing 8 began flying combat and support missions Saturday from the decks of the strike group’s flagship, bound for Afghanistan.

The Reagan strike group had operated in 5th Fleet area of operations since August, supporting coalition forces in Afghanistan. During the Reagan’s deployment in the region, Carrier Air Wing 14 flew more than 1,100 sorties into Afghanistan for the International Security Assistance Force, according to a Naval Forces Central Command/5th Fleet news release.

The Roosevelt left its home port of Norfolk, Va., on Sept. 8 for a routine six- to seven-month deployment.

The U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations includes the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman and Gulf of Aden.