WASHINGTON — The USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier is set to extend its deployment in the Middle East for an additional week. This decision ensures that the United States maintains two carrier strike groups in the region amidst its ongoing battle against Yemen-based Houthi rebels, as reported by a government source.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth initially prolonged the Truman’s stay in the area in late March for a month. This extension comes as part of a broader initiative to intensify operations against the Iran-supported Houthis. On Thursday, Hegseth confirmed the latest extension, and it is anticipated that the Truman, accompanied by its strike group, will return to Norfolk, Virginia, once the week concludes.
The head of U.S. Central Command, Gen. Erik Kurilla, was behind the request for the extension, as stated by officials. The USS Carl Vinson, stationed in San Diego, recently arrived in the vicinity and is currently active in the Gulf of Aden, while the Truman, with two destroyers and a cruiser, is positioned in the Red Sea.
Authorities, who requested anonymity to discuss military proceedings, revealed that since March 15, the U.S. has amplified its military actions against the Houthis under orders from President Donald Trump for an escalated campaign. Trump pledged the use of “overwhelming lethal force” to halt Houthi aggression against Red Sea shipping lanes, a critical trade route.
Under Central Command’s guidelines, the U.S. continues an “intense and sustained campaign” against the Houthis. The command reported that more than 1,000 targets in Yemen have been hit since the initiation of Operation Rough Rider but did not detail the nature of the targets or the methods used for data compilation.
Having two aircraft carriers simultaneously in the Middle East has been unusual. Navy leaders often resisted this idea due to the disruption it causes to ship maintenance and the impact on sailors who already face a demanding pace of operations.
Unless further prolongations occur, the Truman and its accompanying vessels are scheduled to depart the region next week, potentially allowing sailors to return home by next month.
Previously, under the Biden administration, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower had an extended stay in the Red Sea as the most vigorous sea battles since WWII took place. These movements highlighted the U.S.’s significant naval involvement in the Middle East, which had not been seen for years.
Houthi forces had regularly launched missile and drone assaults on commercial and military ships. They declared these actions as an effort to thwart Israel’s military campaigns against Hamas in Gaza. From November 2023 to January, such assaults affected over 100 merchant ships, with two vessels sunk and four sailors killed, thereby severely impacting trade through a waterway that sees $1 trillion in goods pass annually.
Following a self-imposed ceasefire, the group paused its operations, only to witness renewed U.S. offensives on them in mid-March.
In another development, Secretary Hegseth instructed the Defense Department on Friday to construct a fresh national defense strategy, with a deadline for a final draft by the end of August. This strategy will serve as a central guide for the department’s future priorities in addressing global security challenges.
It offers Hegseth the platform to define military focal points for the coming years while aligning with Trump’s “America First” policy. The new draft will additionally account for Hegseth’s significant personnel reductions and the consolidation of multiple military commands.