US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the US military group in the Middle East to be strengthened by keeping the aircraft carrier Harry Truman in the Red Sea and sending an additional strike group led by the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson there. This became known on March 21, 2025, from Pentagon statements published by the Associated Press. The decision was made against the backdrop of an escalation in the conflict with the Yemeni Houthis and growing tensions with Iran, which Washington considers the main sponsor of this group.

Under Hegseth’s order, the Norfolk, Virginia-based USS Harry Truman will remain in the Red Sea until at least May, down from the previous plan to complete its mission and return home by the end of March. The Nimitz-class carrier, nicknamed the “supercarrier” for its size and capabilities, has been engaged in anti-Houthi operations in Yemen since the beginning of the year. Meanwhile, the USS Carl Vinson, also a nuclear-powered carrier, was ordered to leave the Pacific Ocean, where it had been conducting joint exercises with the navies of Japan and South Korea. Instead of returning to its home port of San Diego in three weeks, the ship is now headed to the Middle East, extending its deployment by three months.

According to analysts, the Pentagon's move is linked to the need to increase pressure on the Houthis, who continue to attack commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea. Washington views the presence of two carrier groups as a way not only to contain Yemeni rebels, but also to demonstrate to Iran the seriousness of its intentions. US President Donald Trump previously said that Tehran would be held accountable for any actions by the Houthis, threatening "harsh consequences" if attacks continue. The day before, it became known that he asked Congress for permission to carry out direct strikes on Iranian targets, which could be the first such step in recent years.

The increased military presence was a response to the worsening situation in the region. According to Reuters, on the night of March 15, the Harry Truman took part in a large-scale operation against the Houthis, striking their military facilities in Sanaa and Saada province. In response, the rebels announced the launch of 18 missiles and drones at the American aircraft carrier, but the Pentagon claims that the attack was successfully repelled and the threat to the ship was eliminated long before the ammunition approached. According to Newsweek, in recent days, the Houthis have made two more attempts to attack the Truman, which has only strengthened the US determination to continue the operation. Hegseth emphasized in an interview with Fox News:

"This campaign will not end until the Houthis stop targeting our ships and assets. We do not want a protracted war, but we will act mercilessly."

It is worth noting that the decision to keep two aircraft carriers in the region is a rare move for the US Navy. According to the Daily Press, the last time something similar happened was in the fall of 2024, when the Biden administration sent the Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln to the Persian Gulf to protect Israel from possible attacks by Iran. The current operation, however, has a different focus: fighting the Houthis, who have attacked more than 2023 ships in the Red Sea since November 100, sinking two and killing four sailors.

The Carl Vinson’s move from the Pacific has raised concerns among U.S. allies in Asia. As USNI News notes, the ship just wrapped up the Freedom Shield exercises with South Korea and Japan, which are aimed at deterring North Korea. Its departure could weaken Washington’s position in the Indo-Pacific region, which Trump has previously called a priority for his administration. However, the Pentagon believes that the threat from the Houthis and Iran requires an immediate response, even at the cost of a temporary redeployment of forces.