The USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) has left port in Norfolk, Virginia, after returning days earlier to avoid Hurricane Erin.

The three amphibious ships, which the Navy says are carrying more than 4,500 sailors and Marines, could be seen leaving Norfolk on Sunday in video and imagery posted on social media.

An official, who spoke to Military Times last week on the condition of anonymity to discuss the deployment, said the ships had planned to enter Caribbean waters under the command of U.S. Southern Command when they initially deployed on Aug. 14, but had been delayed by the storm.

The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is deployed aboard the ships, which include the amphibious assault flagship Iwo Jima, along with the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships San An

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