SPLIT, Croatia, March 28 (Reuters) – The U.S. aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford, which had been sent to assist U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran, docked in Split, Croatia, on Saturday for repairs and maintenance.

The Ford, the newest and largest carrier in the world, was working in the Red Sea for Operation Epic Fury when a fire broke out in its laundry room on March 12, injuring three sailors.

Nearly 200 sailors also suffered smoke-related issues, according to a U.S. official. The fire took several hours to control and affected around 100 sleeping quarters.

The warship has been on deployment for nine months and previously participated in operations against Venezuela in the Caribbean before arriving in the Middle East.

During its deployment, the Ford has faced plumbing issues affecting almost 650 toilets.

It had briefly stopped at Souda Bay on the Greek island of Crete. The Croatian government, a NATO ally of the U.S., approved its arrival earlier this week.

“While in port, the USS Gerald R. Ford will host local officials and key leaders to strengthen the alliance between the United States and Croatia,” the U.S. embassy in Croatia stated.

The carrier, which has over 5,000 sailors onboard, carries more than 75 military aircraft, including F-18 Super Hornet fighters, and features advanced radar systems for air traffic control and navigation.