- U.S. forces launched airstrikes and deployed dual aircraft carriers to counter Houthi rebel threats to shipping routes and regional security. The campaign aims to degrade the group’s capabilities.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the USS Carl Vinson to join the USS Harry S. Truman.
- President Donald Trump granted U.S. Central Command broader authority for offensive operations.
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The U.S. military has escalated operations against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, extending a campaign of airstrikes that entered its tenth straight day.
The latest response included deploying a second aircraft carrier to the region, signaling a significant shift in U.S. military posture away from the Indo-Pacific and toward the Red Sea.
The decision followed renewed Houthi threats to attack shipping routes and fire missiles at Israel.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the USS Carl Vinson to leave the Pacific and join the USS Harry S. Truman in the Middle East. The U.S. Navy has committed two strike groups to the region, marking its second dual-carrier deployment within six months.
What triggered the recent US air campaign?
The airstrikes began on March 15 after the Houthis said they would resume attacks on vessels linked to Israel over the Gaza blockade.
Since September 2023, U.S. officials said the group has launched more than 100 drones and missiles at commercial ships. The attacks sunk two vessels and killed four sailors.
U.S. officials said the attacks jeopardize international shipping and regional security.
The Red Sea is one of the world’s busiest maritime routes, and Houthi actions have raised insurance rates and threatened global supply chains.
Where are the airstrikes taking place?
American forces have targeted locations across Yemen, including Sanaa, Saada, Hodeida and Marib. Houthi officials said a strike in the capital killed one person and injured 13 others.
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said the military struck command centers, communication sites, weapons factories and drone production facilities. The Houthis have not verified the extent of the damage.
The Pentagon has not released full details on the number of strikes or their targets, but officials said the campaign aims to degrade the group’s ability to carry out further attacks.
What does the carrier deployment mean?
The USS Carl Vinson was operating in the Pacific and had been preparing to return to its homeport in San Diego. The U.S. Navy will extend the USS Vinson deployment by three months, joining forces with the USS Harry S. Truman, which will stay in the region for another month.
Together, the dual-carrier presence offers commanders additional strike capability and serves as a signal to Iran, the Houthis’ main backer. The U.S. has used similar shows of force in the past to deter threats from Tehran and its regional proxies.
How has the policy shifted under Trump?
President Donald Trump has given U.S. Central Command broader authority to conduct offensive operations without waiting for White House approval. That marks a departure from the Biden administration, which required presidential sign-off for offensive strikes. The Biden-era policy permitted defensive action but emphasized restraint.
Trump vowed to annihilate the Houthis completely and hold Iran accountable for their actions. A Pentagon spokesperson said the current operation is not “an endless offensive,” but the scope and duration remain unclear.
