Hegseth Sends Two U.S. Carriers to Middle East Region/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered two U.S. aircraft carriers to operate in the Middle East next month as part of a heightened response to Houthi rebel attacks on regional shipping. The move reinforces U.S. military pressure on Iran-backed forces and marks a shift in naval resources away from the Indo-Pacific. The USS Carl Vinson and USS Harry S. Truman will operate in tandem for the second time in six months.
U.S. Naval Expansion in Middle East: Quick Looks
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth orders second carrier to the region
- USS Carl Vinson redirected from Indo-Pacific to join USS Harry S. Truman
- Vinson’s deployment extended by three months; Truman to remain an extra month
- Goal: deter Iran and intensify strikes on Yemen’s Houthi rebels
- Houthi attacks have targeted over 100 vessels, sinking two
- Trump administration lowered strike authorization threshold against Houthis
- Naval shift underscores rising military focus on the Red Sea
- Second dual-carrier deployment in the region in six months
Hegseth Sends Two U.S. Carriers to Middle East Region
Deep Look
Hegseth Reinforces U.S. Naval Power in Middle East, Deploys Second Carrier Amid Houthi Escalation
In a rare escalation of naval force in the Middle East, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a second U.S. aircraft carrier strike group to the region next month, responding to a sustained wave of attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels and intensifying tensions with Iran.
The decision, confirmed by a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity, marks only the second time in six months that two carrier groups will operate in the region simultaneously—an uncommon show of force not seen consistently in years.
The USS Harry S. Truman, which has been stationed in the Red Sea conducting operations against Houthi targets, was originally scheduled to return to Norfolk, Virginia, at the end of March. Hegseth has now ordered it to remain deployed for at least another month.
In tandem, the USS Carl Vinson—previously operating in the Indo-Pacific—has been ordered to pivot toward the Middle East. Originally set to return to San Diego in three weeks, the Vinson will now extend its deployment by an additional three months and is expected to arrive in the region in early April. The carrier had recently conducted joint exercises with South Korea and Japan in the Yellow Sea and Sea of Japan.
The surge in naval power supports an intensifying U.S. campaign targeting the Iran-backed Houthis, who have launched more than 100 attacks on commercial and military vessels since November 2023. Those assaults, involving missiles and drones, have sunk two ships and killed at least four sailors. The Houthis claim their operations are in retaliation for the ongoing war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.
Officials say the deployment of a second carrier provides both operational advantages and sends a clear deterrence message to Tehran, which is widely viewed as the primary backer of Houthi forces.
The shift also reflects a notable redirection of U.S. naval assets away from the Indo-Pacific—an area long touted by the Trump administration as its primary strategic focus. By repositioning the Vinson to the Middle East, Hegseth underscores a re-prioritization of immediate threats in the Red Sea and Arabian Peninsula.
This bolstered presence coincides with President Donald Trump’s recent policy shift lowering the threshold for launching offensive strikes on Houthi targets. Under Trump’s directive, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) now has the autonomy to conduct preemptive operations without seeking White House approval—a sharp departure from the Biden-era protocol, which required presidential authorization for any offensive action.
President Joe Biden briefly deployed two carriers to the Middle East during heightened tensions in fall 2024. Then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin extended the USS Roosevelt’s deployment and ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln into the region to help defend Israel from potential Iranian attacks and safeguard U.S. personnel.
Now, under Trump’s second term, the naval surge appears focused less on Israel’s defense and more on direct confrontation with the Houthis, who have escalated their threats to global maritime trade and regional stability.
The White House has not yet commented on whether the dual-carrier deployment will become part of a broader long-term strategy in the Middle East. However, military officials suggest the posture could remain as long as Houthi operations continue and Iran’s regional influence remains unchecked.
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