Adm. Timothy Keating, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, said the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier Essex and other ships will resume their previous operations Thursday.

He said the United States had tried hard to convince Myanmar's military government that it has no other intention besides humanitarian assistance, but Myanmar ignored the offer.

"I am both saddened and frustrated to know what we have been in a position to help ease the suffering of hundreds of thousands of people and help mitigate further loss of life, but have been unable to do so, because of the unrelenting position of Burma's military junta," he said.

The United States sent the Essex and other ships to join the Cobra Gold joint exercise in May and offered to help after the exercise ended.

Since Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar on May 2, the United States has provided 106 airlifts carrying more then 900 tons of emergency relief supplies for the cyclone victims.