In a significant escalation of U.S. military presence in the Middle East, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the deployment of a second aircraft carrier to the region. This move aims to intensify operations against Yemen-based Houthi rebels and deter their primary supporter, Iran.
The USS Harry S. Truman, currently operating in the Red Sea, will have its deployment extended by at least a month. It will be joined by the USS Carl Vinson, which will shift from the Pacific to the Middle East, extending its deployment by three months. This marks the second instance in six months where the U.S. has positioned two carrier strike groups in the region, a departure from the previous norm of maintaining a single carrier presence.
The bolstered naval force serves as a strategic deterrent to Iran amidst ongoing Houthi attacks on commercial and military vessels. From November 2023 to January this year, Houthi rebels targeted over 100 merchant ships using missiles and drones, resulting in the sinking of two vessels and the loss of four sailors. These attacks were purportedly aimed at pressuring Israel to cease its operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
President Trump has authorized broader military actions against the Houthis, granting U.S. Central Command the autonomy to initiate offensive operations without prior White House approval. This represents a shift from the previous administration’s policy, which required explicit consent for such actions and primarily focused on defensive measures.
The decision to deploy additional naval assets underscores the U.S. commitment to safeguarding maritime security in the Middle East and countering threats posed by Iran-backed groups in the region.
