In a decisive move to fortify the United States' naval presence in the Middle East, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has commanded a second aircraft carrier to the region.
This strategic decision is aimed at strengthening the fight against Houthi terrorists, backed by Iran, who have been targeting shipping routes in the Red Sea.
As reported by the U.S. Naval Institute News, a U.S. official disclosed that Hegseth directed the USS Carl Vinson, which was previously engaged in drills with South Korea in the Pacific, to join the USS Harry S. Truman in the Middle East.
The Truman has been stationed in the region since September 2024. Hegseth also extended the Truman's stay in the Middle East for at least another month. This marks the second instance in six months where two U.S. carrier strike groups have been deployed in the region simultaneously.
This strategic move comes in the wake of the Trump administration's recent airstrikes against Houthi forces in Yemen. The Carl Vinson is expected to reach the region in two to three weeks, resulting in an overlap of the two carriers' presence in the region.
The Houthi terrorists, who have been targeting commercial shipping and U.S. warships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, have been active since the Iranian-backed Hamas' terrorist attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, and Israel's subsequent military response in the Gaza Strip. However, there had been a lull in their activities since a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect on January 19. The Houthis resumed their attacks on the Truman and its escort ships following the U.S. airstrikes in Yemen.
President Donald Trump, in a post on Truth Social, issued a stern warning to Iran to cease arming the Houthis "IMMEDIATELY." He further pledged that the Houthis "will be completely annihilated!"
The Truman, which had left Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia at the end of September, was nearing the end of its planned deployment when Hegseth extended its mission. After participating in NATO exercises in the North Sea at the beginning of its deployment, the Truman has been operating in the Red Sea for most of its time. The carrier had to make a brief stop in Souda Bay, Crete, last month for emergency repairs following a collision with a merchant ship near Port Said, Egypt.
The Carl Vinson, which deployed from Naval Station North Island in San Diego in mid-November, has been operating in the Indo-Pacific for the past few months. The carrier, equipped with F-35C Lightning II joint strike fighter jets, conducted drills last week with the U.S. Air Force and South Korea Air Force F-35s. The next West Coast-based carrier expected to deploy to the Indo-Pacific is the USS Nimitz, which has been doing pre-deployed work off the coast of California.
The bolstering of the U.S. Navy's presence in the Middle East is a clear demonstration of the country's commitment to maintaining peace and security in the region. It also sends a strong message to Iran and its Houthi proxies that their disruptive activities will not be tolerated. As Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's orders show, the U.S. is prepared to take decisive action to protect its interests and uphold international law.
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