A new satellite image shows the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman operating in the Red Sea as the war escalates with the Houthis and tensions rise with their alleged Iranian backers.
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and Houthi officials for comment.
Why It Matters
The Pentagon is reinforcing its presence in the Middle East to counter the Houthi rebels in Yemen and as tensions grow with Iran over nuclear talks that have yet to deliver results and with U.S. President Donald Trump threatening an attack on Iran if they fail.
The Truman has been central to U.S. strikes against the Houthis since mid-March and has been repeatedly targeted with missiles and drones, though no direct damage has been reported. Some American warships operating in the Western Pacific Ocean have also been reassigned to the Middle East.
What To Know
The latest satellite imagery shows the Truman operating towards the northern end of the Red Sea, positioned nearly half way between Egypt and Saudi Arabia and well away from Yemen.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has extended the deployment of the aircraft carrier in the Middle East for another week to support ongoing operations against the Houthis, The Associated Press reported on Friday.
Hegseth had stated in March that the campaign against the Houthis would be “unrelenting” until hostilities cease. The group, known as Ansar Allah, have carried out over a hundred attacks on vessels in the region since the 2023 war in Gaza, disrupting a vital maritime trade route.
The extension is the second since President Donald Trump ordered strikes against the group in Yemen on March 15, with the earlier additional deployment of the USS Carl Vinson which joined the in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility, operating in the Arabian Sea.
The nuclear-powered Carl Vinson has F-35C fighter aircraft aboard, which is considered the most capable fighter jet of the U.S. Navy. Military officials said an F/A-18E Super Hornet fell off the Truman last week. Strikes by U.S. Central Command have hit over 1,000 Houthi targets, the Defense Department said on Monday.
The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, the USS Milius, which is based in the Western Pacific Ocean, is also now operating in Middle Eastern waters as part of the American military presence in its efforts to counter Iran’s regional threat.
Iran has denied accusations of providing assistance to the rebel group. While condemning U.S. airstrikes on Yemen, Tehran has warned against any attacks on its territory amid ongoing tensions.
What People Are Saying
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: “Freedom of navigation is basic; it’s a core national interest. The minute the Houthis say, ‘We’ll stop shooting at your ships and we’ll stop shooting at your drones,’ this campaign will end, but until then, it will be unrelenting.”
Houthi Military Spokesperson Yahya Saree on Wednesday: “The UAV force of the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out a military operation targeting the American aircraft carrier ‘Vinson’ and a number of its affiliated warships in the Arabian Sea with a number of drones. This operation comes 24 hours after the blessed operation that forced the US aircraft carrier Truman to depart to the far north of the Red Sea toward the Suez Canal, and included results were as follow: the downing of an F-18 fighter jet, the thwarting of an enemy air attack against our country, the aircraft carrier was pursued with missiles and drones to the far north of the Red Sea.”
What Happens Next
The U.S. is likely to intensify operations as the Houthis’ defiance has highlighted challenges to their deterrence.
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