US beefs up warship presence in Mideast, will have 2 aircraft carriers in region
Amid operations against Houthis and in apparent message of deterrence to Iran, USS Harry S. Truman will remain in Red Sea and USS Carl Vinson will head to region
By AP
Today, 9:16 am
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a rare move, is beefing up the Navy warship presence in the Middle East, ordering two aircraft carriers to be there next month as the US increases strikes on the Yemen-based Houthis, according to a US official.
It will be the second time in six months that the US has kept two carrier strike groups in that region, with generally only one there. Prior to that it had been years since the US had committed that much warship power to the Middle East.
According to the official, Hegseth signed orders on Thursday to keep the USS Harry S. Truman in the Middle East for at least an additional month. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing military operations.
The ship has been conducting operations in the Red Sea against the Houthis and was scheduled to begin heading home to Norfolk, Virginia, at the end of March.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-beefs-up-warship-presence-in-mideast-will-have-2-aircraft-carriers-in-region/
