Latest news with #CENTCOM
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
F-15E Armed With Drone Killing Laser-Guided Rockets Appears In Middle East
We now have a picture showing a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle down-range in the Middle East with an air-to-air loadout that includes six seven-shot 70mm rocket pods, as well as four AIM-9X and four AIM-120 missiles. This comes a week after TWZ was the first to report on testing of the laser-guided 70mm Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rockets as a new armament option for the F-15E. As we noted at that time, the exact loadout we're now seeing on a deployed Strike Eagle turns the jet into a counter-drone and cruise missile 'weapons truck' with a whopping 50 engagement opportunities, not counting the internal gun. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) posted the picture in question, seen at the top of this story, today on social media with a basic caption offering no additional context. TWZ had reached out to CENTCOM and the Air Force for more information. U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 30, 2025 There are indications that the image was taken at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, which has long been a known hub for U.S. F-15E operations in the region. Picture posted by USCENTCOM Twitter account showing an F-15E with an anti-UAV is: 31.827123, 36.797503 (Muwaffaq Salti AB, Jordan.F-15E is 87-0210 from 389th Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. — Evergreen Intel (@ 2025-05-30T17:47:36.641Z The image of the rocket-toting F-15E that had emerged last week via social media channels associated with The Merge military aviation podcast was taken at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, but it remains unclear when. 'The Eglin AFB test community through strong partnerships have aggressively conducted integrated test of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System,' Gabriel Myers, a spokesperson for the 96th Test Wing at Eglin, previously told TWZ when asked for more information about that picture. 'By working at speed to ensure advanced capabilities have the intended effects, we increase warfighter readiness and lethality to meet the global demands of the joint force.' The U.S. military still does not appear to have officially announced the integration of laser-guided APKWS II onto the F-15E. Originally designed as an air-to-ground munition, APKWS II is cleared for use on Air Force F-16C/D Vipers and A-10 Warthogs, as well as U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers and F/A-18C/D Hornets on the fixed-wing side. The precision-guided rockets are also part of the arsenals available for Marine AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom helicopters, as well as U.S. Navy MH-60R/S Seahawks and U.S. Army AH-64D/E Apaches. Each APKWS II rocket consists of a laser guidance package inserted between a standard 70mm rocket motor and one of a variety of warhead options. Regardless, it is not at all surprising that an F-15E with the heavy rocket loadout has now emerged in the Middle East in an operational context. As we previously wrote: 'The Strike Eagle and APKWS II combo's potential in the air-to-air role that is perhaps most exciting. As we noted earlier, Air Force F-16s first began employing the laser-guided rockets in an anti-air optimized configuration to shoot down Houthi drones during operations over and around the Red Sea last year, which TWZ was first to report. The Air Force had announced back in 2019 that it had demonstrated APKWS II's ability to be used as an air-to-air weapon in a test wherein an F-16 downed a surrogate for a subsonic cruise missile, something we were also first to report on. APKWS II is also combat-proven in the surface-to-air role against drones, as well as in air-ground modes and surface-to-surface modes.' U.S. Fighter aircraft shoot down Iran-backed Houthi one-way-attack drones with AGR-20 FALCO Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) Laser Guided 2.75" Rockets.#HouthisAreTerrorists — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 19, 2025 'Since January, F-16s have been observed flying the Middle East carrying air-to-air loadouts that include one or two seven-shot 70mm rocket pods, as well as traditional air-to-air missiles and LITENING targeting pods. This had already underscored the magazine depth benefits of APKWS II. A typical air-to-air for the Viper consists of six air-to-air missiles. Just having a pair of rocket pods on one pylon effectively triples the number of anti-air engagement opportunities per sortie. The F-15E with six seven-shot rocket pods, along with eight air-to-air missiles, goes far beyond that capacity.' … 'Together with aerial refueling support, an F-15E armed with APKWS II rockets and traditional air-to-air missiles could provide a far more persistent counter-air screen with a huge magazine depth against drones and some cruise missile types. This kind of general scenario is what Air Force Strike Eagle crews found themselves in on multiple occasions while defending Israel from Iranian attacks last year, during which, running out of missiles became the limiting factor.' The F-15E also has the advantage of being a two-seat aircraft, which allows the pilot in front to focus on flying the plane while the back-seater engages targets in the air or on the ground and performs other tasks. It is worth mentioning that Muwaffaq Salti was a major staging point for the aforementioned F-15E sorties in the defense of Israel last year. Stunning accounts of those operations have since emerged. This includes at least one instance in which a Strike Eagle crew switched to the jet's 20mm M61 Vulcan cannon after running out of missiles, but was unable to shoot down anything with the gun. It would make sense that an APKWS II capability for the F-15E, particularly for use in the air-to-air role, would have been rushed into service after those experiences, and subsequently fielded to Strike Eagle units deployed in Jordan. APKWS II is limited in the air-to-air role to engaging non-reactionary, low-performance targets that fly along relatively steady courses like one-way-attack drones and subsonic cruise missiles. Currently, targets have to be manually designated, or 'lazed,' throughout the entire course of the engagement, as well. APKWS II's prime contractor, BAE Systems, is now working on a dual-mode guidance package that incorporates an infrared seeker that is designed to offer a pseudo-fire-and-forget capability to make it easier to move on from engaging on target to the next, as you can read more about here. At the same time, the aforementioned magazine depth, together with the lower unit cost of an APKWS II rocket compared to traditional air-to-air missiles, offers clear benefits. The latest variants of the AIM-120 cost around $1 million apiece, while current-generation AIM-9Xs each have a price tag around $450,000. The most expensive part of an APKWS II rocket is the guidance section, which costs between $15,000 and $20,000, with the rocket motor and warhead adding a few thousand dollars more to the total price point. As shown by the F-15E in the newly released picture, air-to-air loadouts incorporating APKWS II can also still include air-to-air missiles for prosecuting more demanding threats. It remains likely that APKWS II will be integrated onto further fixed-wing aircraft in the future for use in the air-to-air role, such as the U.S. Navy's F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. The Air Force's F-15E Strike Eagle fleet has now gotten a major firepower boost, especially for hunting down incoming drones and cruise missiles. Contact the author: joe@
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First Post
14-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
How Donald Trump was forced to call truce with Houthis after losing US jets, drones
US President Donald Trump surprised many when he announced a ceasefire between the US and Houthis last week. While Trump claimed the Houthis 'didn't want to fight anymore' the truth is that his hand was forced after a costly and ineffective campaign against the Iran-backed group. Let's take a closer look read more Donald Trump had vowed to use 'overwhelming lethal force' against the Houthis. AP US President Donald Trump surprised many when he announced a ceasefire between the US and Houthis last week. 'We're going to stop the bombing of the Houthis, effective immediately,' Trump said at the Oval Office. Trump claimed the Houthis said 'they don't want to fight anymore. They just don't want to fight. And we will honour that, and we will stop the bombings.' Trump's announcement came on the very day that Israel carried out airstrikes on the Yemeni capital of Sanaa. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This came after a Houthi missile hit Israel's international airport on Sunday. But it isn't so simple. The truth is that Trump's hand was forced after the US led a costly campaign against the Iran-backed militia group. Let's take a closer look: What happened? The US began its airstrikes against the terror group in March in 'Operation Rough Rider'. This came after the Houthis in November 2023 vowed to attack Israeli ships in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Arabian Sea over its actions in Gaza. The Houthis had disrupted commerce by launching hundreds of drone and missile attacks on vessels in the Red Sea. Trump had vowed to use 'overwhelming lethal force' against the group. Operation Rough Rider attacks 'have destroyed multiple command-and-control facilities, air defence systems, advanced weapons manufacturing facilities, and advanced weapons storage locations,' CENTCOM said in an April 27 post on X. 'These storage facilities housed advanced conventional weapons, including anti-ship ballistic and cruise missiles, unmanned aerial systems, and uncrewed surface vessels, which were employed in Houthi terrorist attacks on international shipping lanes.' The New York Times reported that Trump made the decision to pull the plug after months the US had little to show for months of the bombing campaign. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The report said that though the US did some damage with their airstrikes, the Houthis moved their assets to underground bunkers. It quoted officials in the know as saying that Central Command chief General Michael E Kurilla had laid out an eight to ten month campaign for the US. This grab from footage shared by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) on March 15, 2025 shows a cruise missile being fired from the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64) at sea during operations against Yemen's Houthis. AFP Kurilla proposed dismantling Houthi air defence systems first before going for targeted assassinations of leadership – essentially adopting the Israeli playbook against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Though Trump approved the airstrikes, he gave the military just a month to produce results. The report said Trump then asked for an update – and was told that the US had was likely headed into an 'expensive, indefinite' conflict. By then, the Houthis had taken out seven American MQ-9 drones, which cost around $30 million each. The group also cost the US at least two fighter jets – which fell off aircraft carriers trying to dodge Houthi fire. US officials said some F-16 jets and an F-35 stealth fighter were nearly downed, as per the report. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The War Zone quoted a US official saying that the F-35 had to evasive maneuvers to avoid being hit by Houthi surface-to-air (SAM) missiles. 'They got close enough that the [F-35] had to maneuver,' the official said. Trump by May 5 was ready to end the campaign. He pulled the plug on it a day later. Trump said the Houthis had 'capitulated but, more importantly, we will take their word that they say they will not be blowing up ships anymore. And that's what the purpose of what we were doing.' 'I think that's very positive,' Trump added. 'They were knocking out a lot of ships.' NBC News at the time reported that the operation 'cost America more than $1 billion since March, including the thousands of bombs and missiles used in strikes.' The costs of the US munitions used against Houthi rebel targets in Yemen in daily attacks since March 15 have totalled more than $750 million, another U.S. official said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Trump administration has dropped more than 2,000 munitions on more than 1,000 targets, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide additional details on the strikes. The total is only a fraction of the total costs of the operation. It doesn't account for the costs of operating two aircraft carriers, their accompanying warships or the flight hours of the aircraft. In a statement, the Houthis said that its position toward Gaza hadn't changed and its 'initial understanding' with the US would not impact its support for the Palestinians. White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said Trump's ceasefire was 'another good deal for America and our security.' 'The objective at the outset was securing the freedom of navigation, and that was achieved through the restoration of American deterrence.' What do experts say? This pact is 'definitely a good thing,' Dr Nabeel Khoury, the former deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Yemen, told The New Arab. He said the deal halts 'what was a vicious bombing campaign that was harming Yemeni civilians, depleting US stockpiles of sensitive weapons while achieving nothing of lasting value'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Each side saw some benefit to striking a deal. For the Houthis, it offered an off-ramp that could allow them to rebuild and relieve pressure that, over months or years, could have strategically put them at risk, US officials and experts say. Washington's allies in the region also wanted out, one source said. 'Because if the Houthis were under more pressure, their response was going to be to fire on the Saudis or the Emiratis,' one person familiar with the matter said. A fighter plane takes off, said to be, for an operation against the Yemen's Houthis at an unidentified location in this screengrab taken from a handout video released on March 18, 2025. US CENTCOM via X/Handout via REUTERS Despite Trump's framing of the deal as a way to reopen the Red Sea to commercial shipping without fear of Houthi attack, 'the Houthis have not fired on a commercial ship since December,' Gregory Brew, a senior analyst with the Eurasia Group risk-analysis firm, wrote on X. 'They are likely, however, to continue shooting at Israel,' Brew noted. 'The culmination of the ceasefire accord underscored how quickly the Trump administration moved on initial intelligence to secure what in March seemed unthinkable to many experts in the short term: a Houthi declaration it would stop striking US ships,' Reuters reported Tuesday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Trump's unconventional approach included bypassing close US ally Israel, which is not covered by the agreement, and which was not told ahead of time, an Israeli official and a person familiar with the matter said.' A US official said the administration had not notified Israel of the agreement with the Houthis before Trump talked about it publicly. Israel, according to this official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private diplomatic talks, was irked by the unexpected news — particularly because the Houthis have continued to launch attacks on Israel proper and other Israeli targets. Israel does not appear to be covered by the US-Houthi agreement 'The agreement did not include limitations on Houthi attacks on Israel and shocked the Israelis since Trump had not bothered to consult or even inform the Israelis. For the Houthis to cease those attacks, it likely requires an end to Israel's slaughter and ethnic cleansing in Gaza. This suggests that Trump's commitment to Israel on matters that negatively affect US security is very fragile,' explained Dr Trita Parsi, the executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, told The New Arab. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The Israelis are understandably shocked, particularly since this [pact] came after the Houthis successfully struck Ben Gurion Airport and demonstrated the inefficiency of Israel's updated anti-aircraft systems,' Parsi added. The deal was not a 'genuine ceasefire' but rather 'tactical arrangement,' added Veena Ali-Khan, a fellow at the Century Foundation. 'If anything, it has intensified hostilities between Israel and the Houthis. The Houthis have been explicit in reserving the right to resume attacks at will, stressing that their agreement with the US has no bearing on their military campaign against Israel. They underscored this by escalating strikes in the days that followed, with Israel intercepting Houthi missiles en route to its territory,' she said. Two sources said Iran played an important role in encouraging the Iran-aligned Houthis to negotiate, as Tehran pursues its own talks with the United States over its nuclear program aimed at ending crippling US sanctions and preventing a military strike by the US or Israel. With inputs from agencies
The Intercept
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The Intercept
More Troops Injured as U.S. Planes Keep Plunging Into Red Sea
On the same day that President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between the United States and Yemen's Houthis, an F/A-18 Super Hornet crashed off the deck of an aircraft carrier. The fighter was landing on USS Harry S. Truman when the 'arrestment failed, causing the aircraft to go overboard,' U.S. Central Command told The Intercept by email. After the $60 million jet's tail hook failed to catch the wire that slows down the aircraft, it plummeted into the Red Sea. Two aviators ejected from the jet and were plucked from the water by a search and rescue helicopter. Both were injured, according to an unnamed CENTCOM official. The injured aviators are the latest in a growing number of casualties in the Middle East that the Trump White House prefers to ignore. As The Intercept reported last week, CENTCOM, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the White House are keeping the total number of U.S. casualties from the war secret. 'The refusal to provide the casualty data for U.S. troops in the Middle East is another example of the gross incompetence of this administration,' Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., told The Intercept. 'Transparency in the casualties sustained through every military operation should be a cornerstone of every administration. The refusal to provide the public with basic information should be deeply alarming to every American.' Omar is the third lawmaker in the last week to call for accountability from the White House and the Pentagon, joining Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash. The total number of military personnel who have been killed or wounded in the broader U.S. campaign against the Houthis, which began under the Biden administration, is being withheld from the American people. But since last Monday, there have been at least three casualties. That day, a sailor was injured when a different F/A-18 Super Hornet was lost at sea, falling off the Truman after the ship made a sharp turn to evade a Houthi attack. When The Intercept asked the Office of the Secretary of Defense last week for the number of casualties sustained by U.S. forces in the campaign against the Houthis, the Pentagon balked at providing a number and referred questions to Central Command, which referred questions to the White House. Repeated requests to White House assistant press secretary Taylor Rogers have gone unanswered for more than a week. This is not standard operating procedure. Under the Biden administration, the Office of the Secretary of Defense and CENTCOM provided detailed data on attacks on military bases across the Middle East — including to this reporter. CENTCOM provided the total number of attacks, breakdowns by country, and the total number injured. The Pentagon offered even more granular data, providing individual synopses of attacks, including information on deaths and injuries not only to U.S. troops but even civilian contractors working on U.S. bases. The Intercept found that U.S. troops in the Middle East have come under attack close to 400 times, at a minimum, since the outbreak of the Israel–Hamas war. U.S. Navy vessels in the region have been the most frequent target, coming under attack 174 times since October 2023, according to Central Command. There have also been 'about 200' attacks on U.S. bases in the region since the Gaza war began, according to Pentagon spokesperson Patricia Kreuzberger. This amounts to roughly one attack every 1.5 days, on average. The strikes, predominantly by Iranian-backed militias and the Houthi government in Yemen, include a mix of one-way attack drones, rockets, mortars, and ballistic missiles. These groups ramped up attacks on U.S. targets in October 2023, in response to the U.S.-supported Israeli war on Gaza. Despite Trump's claims that the Houthis 'capitulated' and 'don't want to fight anymore,' it remains unclear whether America's billion-dollar, seven-week campaign of strikes that targeted civilian infrastructure and, according to local reports, killed scores of innocent people, has achieved its objective of stopping the Houthis from impeding international shipping. 'What happened now is that America announced the cessation of its aggression against Yemen after failing to achieve any of its goals.' Nasruddin Amer, a Houthi spokesperson, dismissed Trump's 'fallacies and bravado' and directed The Intercept to a statement by Oman's foreign minister, Badr Albusaidi, who said that mediation by his country had 'resulted in a ceasefire agreement' in which 'neither side will target the other, including American vessels, in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.' A senior Houthi leader had already told Drop Site in April that the group would cease attacks if the Trump administration halted bombings. Amer also told The Intercept that the Houthis will continue fighting Israel. Houthi officials and supporters portrayed the ceasefire as a triumph over Trump and a U.S. defeat. 'America attacked our country in service of Israel and in support of the continuation of the crimes of genocide in Gaza. We defended ourselves against the American aggression and continued our support for Gaza,' Amer told The Intercept by text message. 'What happened now is that America announced the cessation of its aggression against Yemen after failing to achieve any of its goals.' The White House did not reply to repeated requests for comment on the statement.
Miami Herald
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
New Satellite Image Shows U.S. Aircraft Carrier at War with Houthis
National New Satellite Image Shows U.S. Aircraft Carrier at War with Houthis Satellite Truman. This photograph captured by the European Space Agency's Sentinel-2 satellites on May 3 shows the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in Red Sea amid operations against the Houthis. Copernicus/Sentinel Hub A new satellite image shows the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman operating in the Red Sea as the war escalates with the Houthis and tensions rise with their alleged Iranian backers. Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and Houthi officials for comment. Why It Matters The Pentagon is reinforcing its presence in the Middle East to counter the Houthi rebels in Yemen and as tensions grow with Iran over nuclear talks that have yet to deliver results and with U.S. President Donald Trump threatening an attack on Iran if they fail. The Truman has been central to U.S. strikes against the Houthis since mid-March and has been repeatedly targeted with missiles and drones, though no direct damage has been reported. Some American warships operating in the Western Pacific Ocean have also been reassigned to the Middle East. What To Know The latest satellite imagery shows the Truman operating towards the northern end of the Red Sea, positioned nearly half way between Egypt and Saudi Arabia and well away from Yemen. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has extended the deployment of the aircraft carrier in the Middle East for another week to support ongoing operations against the Houthis, The Associated Press reported on Friday. Hegseth had stated in March that the campaign against the Houthis would be "unrelenting" until hostilities cease. The group, known as Ansar Allah, have carried out over a hundred attacks on vessels in the region since the 2023 war in Gaza, disrupting a vital maritime trade route. The extension is the second since President Donald Trump ordered strikes against the group in Yemen on March 15, with the earlier additional deployment of the USS Carl Vinson which joined the in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility, operating in the Arabian Sea. The nuclear-powered Carl Vinson has F-35C fighter aircraft aboard, which is considered the most capable fighter jet of the U.S. Navy. Military officials said an F/A-18E Super Hornet fell off the Truman last week. Strikes by U.S. Central Command have hit over 1,000 Houthi targets, the Defense Department said on Monday. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, the USS Milius, which is based in the Western Pacific Ocean, is also now operating in Middle Eastern waters as part of the American military presence in its efforts to counter Iran's regional threat. Iran has denied accusations of providing assistance to the rebel group. While condemning U.S. airstrikes on Yemen, Tehran has warned against any attacks on its territory amid ongoing tensions. What People Are Saying U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: "Freedom of navigation is basic; it's a core national interest. The minute the Houthis say, 'We'll stop shooting at your ships and we'll stop shooting at your drones,' this campaign will end, but until then, it will be unrelenting." Houthi Military Spokesperson Yahya Saree on Wednesday: "The UAV force of the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out a military operation targeting the American aircraft carrier 'Vinson' and a number of its affiliated warships in the Arabian Sea with a number of drones. This operation comes 24 hours after the blessed operation that forced the US aircraft carrier Truman to depart to the far north of the Red Sea toward the Suez Canal, and included results were as follow: the downing of an F-18 fighter jet, the thwarting of an enemy air attack against our country, the aircraft carrier was pursued with missiles and drones to the far north of the Red Sea." What Happens Next The U.S. is likely to intensify operations as the Houthis' defiance has highlighted challenges to their deterrence. Related Articles 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC. This story was originally published May 6, 2025 at 4:34 AM.
Newsweek
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
New Satellite Image Shows U.S. Aircraft Carrier at War with Houthis
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new satellite image shows the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman operating in the Red Sea as the war escalates with the Houthis and tensions rise with their alleged Iranian backers. Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and Houthi officials for comment. Why It Matters The Pentagon is reinforcing its presence in the Middle East to counter the Houthi rebels in Yemen and as tensions grow with Iran over nuclear talks that have yet to deliver results and with U.S. President Donald Trump threatening an attack on Iran if they fail. The Truman has been central to U.S. strikes against the Houthis since mid-March and has been repeatedly targeted with missiles and drones, though no direct damage has been reported. Some American warships operating in the Western Pacific Ocean have also been reassigned to the Middle East. This photograph captured by the European Space Agency's Sentinel-2 satellites on May 3 shows the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in Red Sea amid operations against the Houthis. This photograph captured by the European Space Agency's Sentinel-2 satellites on May 3 shows the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in Red Sea amid operations against the Houthis. Copernicus/Sentinel Hub What To Know The latest satellite imagery shows the Truman operating towards the northern end of the Red Sea, positioned nearly half way between Egypt and Saudi Arabia and well away from Yemen. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has extended the deployment of the aircraft carrier in the Middle East for another week to support ongoing operations against the Houthis, The Associated Press reported on Friday. Hegseth had stated in March that the campaign against the Houthis would be "unrelenting" until hostilities cease. The group, known as Ansar Allah, have carried out over a hundred attacks on vessels in the region since the 2023 war in Gaza, disrupting a vital maritime trade route. The extension is the second since President Donald Trump ordered strikes against the group in Yemen on March 15, with the earlier additional deployment of the USS Carl Vinson which joined the in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility, operating in the Arabian Sea. The nuclear-powered Carl Vinson has F-35C fighter aircraft aboard, which is considered the most capable fighter jet of the U.S. Navy. Military officials said an F/A-18E Super Hornet fell off the Truman last week. Strikes by U.S. Central Command have hit over 1,000 Houthi targets, the Defense Department said on Monday. Map shows location of U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman as it carries out attacks against the Houthis in Yemen Map shows location of U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman as it carries out attacks against the Houthis in Yemen Newsweek The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, the USS Milius, which is based in the Western Pacific Ocean, is also now operating in Middle Eastern waters as part of the American military presence in its efforts to counter Iran's regional threat. Iran has denied accusations of providing assistance to the rebel group. While condemning U.S. airstrikes on Yemen, Tehran has warned against any attacks on its territory amid ongoing tensions. What People Are Saying U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: "Freedom of navigation is basic; it's a core national interest. The minute the Houthis say, 'We'll stop shooting at your ships and we'll stop shooting at your drones,' this campaign will end, but until then, it will be unrelenting." Houthi Military Spokesperson Yahya Saree on Wednesday: "The UAV force of the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out a military operation targeting the American aircraft carrier 'Vinson' and a number of its affiliated warships in the Arabian Sea with a number of drones. This operation comes 24 hours after the blessed operation that forced the US aircraft carrier Truman to depart to the far north of the Red Sea toward the Suez Canal, and included results were as follow: the downing of an F-18 fighter jet, the thwarting of an enemy air attack against our country, the aircraft carrier was pursued with missiles and drones to the far north of the Red Sea." What Happens Next The U.S. is likely to intensify operations as the Houthis' defiance has highlighted challenges to their deterrence.
