of Operation Enduring Freedom. While in port Aqaba, Jordan in July 2006, she was recalled through the Suez Canal to support contingency operations due to the crisis in Lebanon. Whidbey Island subsequently participated in the largest Non-Combatant Evacuation conducted by the U.S. Navy since Vietnam. During July and August, she evacuated 817 American citizens, out of a total of 14,555 evacuated by the Expeditionary Strike Group, via Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) with Personnel Transport Module. AMCITS were taken to Limassol, Cyprus and released to State Department Control. Following operations off of Lebanon, Whidbey Island redeployed through the Suez Canal to the Fifth Fleet Operations Area and offloaded elements of the 24 MEU into Bahrain for operations in Iraq. Following the offload, Whidbey Island deployed to the Northern Persian Gulf in support of Commander Task Force 158, responsible as an Afloat Forward Staging Base. In this role, she was responsible for defense of the KAAOT and ABOT oil rigs, the primary critical oil infrastructure producing revenue for Iraq. In November 2006, Whidbey Island departed the Northern Persian Gulf and returned home, stopping in Civitavecchia, Italy and Tunis, Tunisia en route, arriving 6 December 2006. On 16 February 2007, Whidbey Island was awarded the 2006 Battle "E" award. On 1 October 2007, Whidbey Island deployed from Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base. After being deployed to the Horn of Africa, she assisted the Comorian vessel and her crew when they were released by Somali pirates on 2 December 2007. 2008 – 2009 On 12 January 2008, the US Navy reported that Whidbey Island had fired warning shots near a small Iranian boat in the Strait of Hormuz in December. The boat was reportedly approaching Whidbey Island rapidly but stopped after the warning shots were fired. 2011 – 2012 On 23 March 2011, Whidbey Island deployed as part of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. Whidbey Island had 11 port visits in eight different countries throughout the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. Sailors and Marines participated in Operation Summer Storm 2011 off the coast of Romania from 30 July - 3 August. The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit disembarked 4 February 2012 in Morehead City, North Carolina. Whidbey Island returned to her homeport at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Virginia Beach, Virginia on 7 February 2012, concluding the month deployment. 2016 On 24 June 2016,