USS Harry S. Truman returns to US after months of battling Houthis
The aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman, the flagship of the Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, returned this past weekend to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, after an eventful 251-day deployment that saw the vessel fire over 1.1. million pounds of ordnance and deliver the largest carrier-launched airstrike in history.
The Truman's arrival in its home port Sunday followed months of almost ceaseless action in the Middle East against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels as part of Operation Rough Rider, launched by U.S. Central Command on March 15.
During the operation, which targeted Houthi infrastructure such as command centers, training camps and weapons manufacturing sites, the Truman saw continuous action for over 50 days, conducting precision airstrikes and launching Tomahawk missiles while under constant fire from Houthi militants seeking to hamstring global shipping.
The Truman launched 11,000 sorties and expended over 1.1 million pounds of ordnance during its deployment, and on Feb. 1 launched the largest-ever airstrike against Islamic State terrorists in Somalia. Launched from the Truman, 27 F/A-18 Super Hornets of Carrier Air Wing 1 struck ISIS militants based in cave complexes, dropping 124,000 pounds of ordnance within less than two minutes and killing 14 terrorists, including ISIS recruiter Ahmed Maeleninine.
During its grueling deployment, which was extended numerous times, the Truman underwent several hardships, including a collision with a civilian merchant vessel in the Mediterranean in February, an abrupt change in command and the loss of three F/A-18 fighter jets.
'These warrior Sailors demonstrated superb grit for more than eight months. Even in the face of significant challenges, they persevered, never giving up when their nation needed them,' said Capt. Chris 'Chowdah' Hill, commanding officer of the Truman, in a release. 'It's been an honor to serve alongside such dedicated professionals and to take them home to their families.'
Other vessels in the strike group accompanying the Truman included the Ticonderoga-class cruiser Gettysburg and two Arleigh-Burke class destroyers, the Jason Dunham and the Stout. Altogether, the vessels sailed over 240,000 nautical miles during the lengthy deployment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Trump, in show of NATO support, nominates official to key role with alliance
President Donald Trump has nominated Air Force Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich to lead U.S. and NATO forces in Europe, sending a strong signal the administration will continue to play a leadership role in the alliance. Some allies, amid reports theTrump administration was reconsidering the position, worried the president would choose not to prioritize Europe and decline to place an American at the helm of NATO forces. A U.S. officer has filled the role since Gen. Dwight Eisenhower took the job in 1951 and is a symbol of American commitment to the region. Trump nominated Grynkewich, the Joint Staff's director of operations, to become the Supreme Allied Commander for Europe and commander, U.S. European Command. The nomination reinforces support for European allies just two weeks before NATO leaders gather in The Hague, Netherlands for an annual summit, which Trump and other alliance leaders will attend. The current Supreme Allied Commander, Gen. Chris Cavoli, told a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in April that a U.S. decision to walk away from the role would prove a grave mistake. 'Our allies crave our leadership and are stronger with it, and are stronger for us,' he said. The discussions about not filling the role were part of a wider rethinking of the global U.S. footprint, according to a person familiar with the conversations, who like others, was granted anonymity to discuss internal matters. But the White House decided to keep a U.S. officer in the seat, the person said. The role is a critical one for European security. The official coordinates NATO military maneuvers and warfighting strategies across the continent, and handles nuclear deterrence. The person also commands American forces during any conflict in Europe. Lawmakers have advocated for keeping an American in the role so that a foreign leader would not oversee U.S. troops in a time of war. Grynkewich, an F-16 and F-22 pilot, has previously served as director of operations for U.S. Central Command, chief of plans for the European Command and the Pentagon's deputy director of global operations. "There was some concern about the U.S. pulling back here but this is a welcome signal that the U.S., even while shifting some priorities, still sees a secure Europe as a key priority,' said a European official. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, at NATO headquarters Thursday for a defense ministers meeting, expressed confidence that European countries would continue investing more in their own defense. The administration is pressing allies to commit 5 percent of GDP to the alliance, a number the U.S. has yet to meet. "I'm very encouraged by what we heard," Hegseth said after the meetings. "Countries in there are well exceeding 2% and we think very close, almost near consensus, on a 5 percent commitment to NATO."
New York Times
20 hours ago
- New York Times
Syrians Rejoice at Being Exempted from Trump Travel Ban
During his first term, President Trump included Syria in a series of travel bans targeting mostly Muslim-majority nations, branding refugees from the war-ravaged country as requiring 'extreme vetting' to protect national security. The impact was immediate: flights were canceled, refugee resettlements were halted, and families were separated. But on Wednesday, Syria was exempted from Mr. Trump's new travel ban, representing another sign of the seismic shift in U.S. foreign policy toward the country after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, the former president, in December. Syria was one of only four countries that were blacklisted in Mr. Trump's first term that were excluded this time around, alongside Iraq, North Korea and Nigeria. For many Syrians, the news added to a growing sense of optimism about the country's future as it emerges from years of war and decades of authoritarian dictatorship. 'This is something that brings hope for the future, especially for the younger generation,' said Lina Habshi as she shopped in Damascus to prepare for Eid al-Adha, a major religious holiday. 'My daughter was studying chemistry, but opportunities were limited here. Now she might be able to travel and grow in her field.' Her 16-year-old daughter, Rama, echoed Ms. Habshi's sentiment. 'I feel like the government's actions are changing how Syrians are viewed,' she said. 'Now we have a presence outside our country.' For decades, the United States treated Syria as a pariah. That position hardened following the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011 and the subsequent rise of the Islamic State, a terrorist group that seized parts of the country and carried out attacks overseas. But in recent months, the Trump administration has sought better relations. Mr. Trump lifted some sanctions on Syria last month and held talks with the new president, Ahmed al-Shara, a former rebel commander with past links to Al Qaeda. It was the first time the leaders of the two countries had met in 25 years. The new Syrian government has pledged to restore stability after more than a decade of war. In return, Washington has sought to leverage the promise of a rapprochement with a number of demands, including the expulsion of 'foreign terrorists' from Syria and guarantees that the Islamic State will not be allowed to gain more power, according to the White House. For many Syrians, the travel ban exemption was another sign that the country was once again being accepted by the wider world after decades of isolation. 'We're so happy,' said Tahani Madani, an employee at Syria's largest commercial bank. 'Honestly, it's hard to even describe our joy. Thank God, things are getting better.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says it will open two aid distribution centers on Thursday
DUBAI (Reuters) -U.S-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) said it will open two aid distribution centers on Thursday. GHF had said earlier that its sites would not open at their usual time due to maintenance and repair work. It did not say when aid distribution would resume. The group, which has been fiercely criticised by humanitarian organisations, including the United Nations, began distributing aid last week. The U.N. has warned that most of Gaza's 2.3 million population is at risk of famine after an 11-week Israeli blockade of the enclave.
