Hegseth Extends Aircraft Carriers in Middle East for Houthi Campaign/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has extended the deployment of the USS Harry S. Truman for another week, maintaining two U.S. aircraft carriers in the Middle East to support ongoing strikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The extended mission follows Central Command’s request to maintain pressure as part of “Operation Rough Rider.” The U.S. has launched over 1,000 strikes since the campaign began in mid-March.
Hegseth Extends Carrier Presence: Quick Looks
- USS Harry S. Truman stays an extra week in Red Sea at Hegseth’s order
- USS Carl Vinson continues operations in Gulf of Aden
- Mission supports Operation Rough Rider, an intensified campaign against Yemen’s Houthis
- Over 1,000 targets struck since March 15, according to U.S. Central Command
- Deployment strains Navy rotation cycles but seen as critical to maintaining regional pressure
- Red Sea trade routes disrupted, with Houthis blamed for sinking ships and killing sailors
- Carrier groups expected to return if no further extensions are issued
- Houthi attacks tied to Gaza conflict, targeting U.S. and commercial ships
Deep Look: U.S. Keeps Two Carriers in Mideast to Sustain Houthi Offensive
WASHINGTON — In a sign of intensifying military engagement, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has extended the deployment of the USS Harry S. Truman for another week, keeping two U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups stationed in the Middle East amid an aggressive air campaign against Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
The move marks the second time Hegseth has ordered the Truman to remain beyond its scheduled rotation. U.S. officials said Thursday’s order followed a formal request from Gen. Erik Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), who cited the need for continued force presence as the Pentagon carries out Operation Rough Rider, a military campaign launched by President Donald Trump in March.
“We will use overwhelming lethal force to ensure freedom of navigation and eliminate Houthi threats,” Trump said at the start of the campaign.
Dual Carrier Presence Signals Escalation
With the USS Carl Vinson already operating in the Gulf of Aden, the Truman remains in the Red Sea alongside two destroyers and a cruiser. The pairing of two carrier strike groups in the region is rare and logistically taxing for the Navy, which typically avoids double-carrier deployments to allow for maintenance and personnel rest.
But CENTCOM maintains that such firepower is necessary to sustain momentum against the Houthis, a militant group aligned with Iran. According to the command, the U.S. has struck more than 1,000 targets inside Yemen since mid-March. Officials have not released details on the nature or locations of those strikes.
Houthi Threat and Impact on Global Trade
The campaign is part of a broader response to Houthi attacks on maritime traffic in the Red Sea—a key global shipping lane through which more than $1 trillion in trade typically flows each year. Between November 2023 and January 2024, the Houthis launched missile and drone strikes on over 100 commercial vessels, sinking two and killing four sailors.
While the group paused attacks during a self-declared ceasefire earlier this year, U.S. officials say that halt ended with renewed American strikes in March.
The Houthis have claimed the attacks are part of their protest against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, but Washington sees the group’s actions as part of Iran’s regional destabilization strategy.
“This is the most sustained naval conflict since World War II,” said one U.S. defense official, describing the situation in the Red Sea.
Navy Fatigue and Timeline for Return
If no further extensions are issued, the Truman and its accompanying warships are expected to return to Norfolk, Virginia, later this month. Navy leadership has cautioned that prolonged deployments like this one could wear down fleets and personnel, though they acknowledge the strategic importance of maintaining pressure on the Houthis.
“These sailors have been operating at high tempo for months,” said a Navy official. “The strain is real, but the mission remains critical.”
Context and Broader Strategy
Last year, the Biden administration had kept the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the region under similar circumstances. Trump’s broader military strategy in his second term has included high-profile deployments, increased tariff-driven economic pressure, and the use of federal power to reshape both domestic and global institutions.
Operation Rough Rider marks one of the Trump administration’s most sustained military operations, aiming not just to counter Houthi aggression but to reinforce American naval dominance in contested waters.
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