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Miami Herald
27-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Satellite Photos Show British Aircraft Carrier Heading Toward Pacific
Satellite imagery captured the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales passing through Egypt's Suez Canal as it led a naval strike group on a mission to the western Pacific Ocean. The British High Commission in Singapore also announced that the United Kingdom carrier strike group, led by the Prince of Wales, is scheduled to make a port call in the South China Sea country next month to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email. The Prince of Wales has been conducting Operation Highmast-an eight-month mission set to take it to Singapore, Australia, Japan and India-since departing from its home port in southern England on April 22, forming a naval task group with several NATO naval vessels. The aircraft carrier's deployment comes as the United States-a major ally of the U.K.-and China-which has the world's largest navy by hull count-jostle for naval dominance in the western Pacific Ocean, where both countries have recently deployed their aircraft carriers. Open-source intelligence researcher @MT_Anderson wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that a group of nine warships appeared to be transiting the Suez Canal southward on Saturday, sailing from the Mediterranean Sea toward the Red Sea, as shown in a satellite image. Based on its silhouette, the researcher identified one of the warships as the Prince of Wales, positioned as the second ship in the single-line formation. Prior to their transit in the Suez Canal, the aircraft carrier and its escorting warships made a stopover at Greece's Souda Bay. The presence of the Prince of Wales near the Red Sea comes after the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Trumanleft the region. The American warship had been engaged in conflict with Yemen's Houthis until both sides reached a ceasefire agreement earlier this month. Meanwhile, @MT_Anderson said two American destroyers were likely part of the formation. According to the specialist outlet The Maritime Executive, their presence would make it difficult for the Houthis to target non-U.S. ships within the U.K. carrier strike group. Regarding the Prince of Wales' planned visit to Singapore, the British High Commission told Newsweek that it was unable to share much information at the moment. It remains unclear exactly when the British carrier strike group will arrive in the Southeast Asian country. The Royal Navy said in a statement issued on April 29: "The 2025 mission, known as Operation Highmast and commanded by Commodore James Blackmore and his staff from aboard HMS Prince of Wales, occurs with a changed world order and even more volatile geo-political situation." U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey said in a statement issued on April 22: "As one of only a few nations capable of leading a deployment of this scale, the Royal Navy is once again demonstrating that U.K. defense is strong, modern, and ready to meet the threats of today and tomorrow." It remains to be seen whether the Prince of Wales will operate in or near contested areas in the western Pacific Ocean-the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait-during its mission. Related Articles Donald Trump Attacks UK's 'Unsightly Windmills'Map Shows Countries Condemning Israel Over Gaza OffensiveThe EU Needs a Navy. Can the UK Supply It? | OpinionEurope Squeezes Putin as Trump Pins Ukraine Hopes on More Talks 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Satellite Photos Show British Aircraft Carrier Heading Toward Pacific
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. Satellite imagery captured the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales passing through Egypt's Suez Canal as it led a naval strike group on a mission to the western Pacific Ocean. The British High Commission in Singapore also announced that the United Kingdom carrier strike group, led by the Prince of Wales, is scheduled to make a port call in the South China Sea country next month to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email. Why It Matters The Prince of Wales has been conducting Operation Highmast—an eight-month mission set to take it to Singapore, Australia, Japan and India—since departing from its home port in southern England on April 22, forming a naval task group with several NATO naval vessels. Members of the public watching the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales leave from Portsmouth Naval Base on the south coast of England on April 22. Members of the public watching the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales leave from Portsmouth Naval Base on the south coast of England on April 22. BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images The aircraft carrier's deployment comes as the United States—a major ally of the U.K.—and China—which has the world's largest navy by hull count—jostle for naval dominance in the western Pacific Ocean, where both countries have recently deployed their aircraft carriers. What To Know Open-source intelligence researcher @MT_Anderson wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that a group of nine warships appeared to be transiting the Suez Canal southward on Saturday, sailing from the Mediterranean Sea toward the Red Sea, as shown in a satellite image. Based on its silhouette, the researcher identified one of the warships as the Prince of Wales, positioned as the second ship in the single-line formation. Prior to their transit in the Suez Canal, the aircraft carrier and its escorting warships made a stopover at Greece's Souda Bay. 🚨update🚨 🇬🇧UK Carrier Strike Group 2025🇬🇧 After closer examination of the SB transit, I see the 7x warships (order of N to S) Nunez Mendez | Maud | Ville de Quebec | Roald Amundsen | Richmond | Prince of Wales | Dauntless To my surprise there are 2x additional warships in the… — MT Anderson (@MT_Anderson) May 25, 2025 The presence of the Prince of Wales near the Red Sea comes after the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman left the region. The American warship had been engaged in conflict with Yemen's Houthis until both sides reached a ceasefire agreement earlier this month. Meanwhile, @MT_Anderson said two American destroyers were likely part of the formation. According to the specialist outlet The Maritime Executive, their presence would make it difficult for the Houthis to target non-U.S. ships within the U.K. carrier strike group. Regarding the Prince of Wales' planned visit to Singapore, the British High Commission told Newsweek that it was unable to share much information at the moment. It remains unclear exactly when the British carrier strike group will arrive in the Southeast Asian country. What People Are Saying The Royal Navy said in a statement issued on April 29: "The 2025 mission, known as Operation Highmast and commanded by Commodore James Blackmore and his staff from aboard HMS Prince of Wales, occurs with a changed world order and even more volatile geo-political situation." U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey said in a statement issued on April 22: "As one of only a few nations capable of leading a deployment of this scale, the Royal Navy is once again demonstrating that U.K. defense is strong, modern, and ready to meet the threats of today and tomorrow." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether the Prince of Wales will operate in or near contested areas in the western Pacific Ocean—the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait—during its mission.
Newsweek
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Satellite Photo Shows US Aircraft Carrier at China's Doorstep
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. Latest satellite imagery shows that the United States aircraft carrier USS Nimitz continues to operate in the South China Sea, where China's sovereignty claims cover most of the waters. Regarding the Nimitz's deployment in the South China Sea, the U.S. Seventh Fleet—which maintains U.S. naval presence in the Western Pacific Ocean—previously told Newsweek that the nuclear-powered ship "provides presence and combat-ready forces to the theater." Newsweek has also reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email. Why It Matters The U.S. Navy has the largest aircraft-carrier fleet in the world, with 11 vessels in service. They are regularly deployed overseas to demonstrate America's "unwavering commitment" to a free and open Indo-Pacific region, where China is challenging U.S. naval dominance. Tensions persist in the South China Sea as China's sovereignty claims—based on what it calls "historic rights"—overlap with those of neighboring nations, including the Philippines, a U.S. defense treaty ally, leading to standoffs and clashes at sea between the two sides. United States Navy sailors prepare for flight operations on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS "Nimitz" in the South China Sea on May 12, 2025. United States Navy sailors prepare for flight operations on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS "Nimitz" in the South China Sea on May 12, 2025. Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Franklyn M. Guage/U.S. Navy What To Know Open-source intelligence researcher @MT_Anderson said on X (formerly Twitter) that the Nimitz and its two escorting destroyers were spotted underway in the southern part of the South China Sea, about 310 miles west of Brunei on Tuesday, based on a satellite image. 🇺🇸Carrier Strike Group 11🇺🇸 CVN-68 and 2x of her 4x Arleigh Burke class destroyers are operating ~500 km W of 🇧🇳Brunei (13 May 2025) CSG 11 last spotted near 🇵🇭Scarborough Shoal on 9 May 2025@Schizointel — MT Anderson (@MT_Anderson) May 15, 2025 In a press release, the U.S. Navy confirmed that the aircraft carrier remained in the South China Sea, where it held a change-of-command ceremony for its carrier strike group on Wednesday. Commissioned in 1975, the Nimitz is the oldest American aircraft carrier in active service. It departed from its home port—Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington—in late March for a deployment in the Western Pacific Ocean, likely on its final mission before retirement. Following its deployment in waters east of the Philippines, the Nimitz reached the South China Sea as early as May 3 and was seen underway west of Luzon in northern Philippines. Besides the Nimitz, a second U.S. aircraft carrier, USS George Washington, is stationed in the Western Pacific Ocean. As of Friday, it remained at its Yokosuka home port in Japan, according to a local government website that tracks port visits by U.S. nuclear-powered warships. What People Are Saying The U.S. Navy said: "[Nimitz Carrier Strike Group] is operating in the U.S. [Seventh] Fleet area of operations. U.S. [Seventh] Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region." Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said: "The current situation in the South China Sea is generally stable. There isn't any problem with the freedom of navigation and overflight that countries enjoy in accordance with the law." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether the Nimitz will be redeployed from the Western Pacific Ocean to the Middle East, where two of its sister ships are currently stationed amid regional tensions.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
B-52s Join B-2s On Diego Garcia, 10 Bombers Now At Indian Ocean Outpost
Satellite imagery indicates there are now 10 U.S. heavy bombers – six stealthy B-2s and four B-52s – on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. A key question now is whether the arrival of the B-52s, which occurred this week, will lead to the B-2s departing the highly strategic British island territory. Since they first deployed to Diego Garcia in March, the B-2s have been used in strikes against Houthi militants in Yemen, with which U.S. authorities recently concluded a ceasefire deal, and their presence has also been a huge show of force aimed at Iran. A low-resolution satellite image taken today, seen in the social media post below, appears to show the six B-2s and four B-52s. An array of other large aircraft, which could include KC-135 tankers, as well as C-5 and C-17 airlifters, are also visible. KC-135s arrived at Diego Garcia along with the B-2 in March, and C-17s have also been key to supporting that deployment. 10 US Air Force strategic bombers are at Diego Garcia as of to be seen is whether the B-2s will return to the States or stay for a while longer. — TheIntelFrog (@TheIntelFrog) May 8, 2025 Satellite imagery had already emerged yesterday that looked to show a pair of B-52s having touched down on the Indian Ocean island. This all also aligns with online flight tracking data that began emerging earlier in the week, which had pointed to the deployment of two separate pairs of B-52s from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana to Diego Garcia. NSF Diego Garcia For those that have been watching, not surprised to see 2x B-52 bombers at Diego Garcia along with 6x KC-135, 6x B-2 bombers, 1x C-5 Galaxy and 1x unknownCaveats apply given resolutionSrc : @esa7 May, 2025 — MT Anderson (@MT_Anderson) May 7, 2025 #WAKE11 flt, a second pair of Barksdale B-52H heading to Diego Garcia, working San Francisco Radio HF 13288. — EISNspotter (@EISNspotter) May 6, 2025 While testifying before members of the House Armed Services Committee yesterday, U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Andrew Gebara, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, did say 'there's a Bomber Task Force of B-52s going on as we speak,' but did not name Diego Garcia or provide any additional details. The Air Force uses the term Bomber Task Force (BTF) to refer to irregular deployments of bombers to forward locations around the world, as you can read more about here. The last known B-52 BTF deployment, which saw four of the bombers head to RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, wrapped up in March. In response to questions about the B-52 deployment and whether the B-2s will now depart Diego Garcia, a U.S. defense official told TWZ that 'we have nothing to provide.' Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) 'routinely conducts global operations in coordination with other combatant commands, services, and participating U.S. government agencies to deter, detect and, if necessary, defeat strategic attacks against the United States and its allies. To preserve operational security, we do not discuss details about exercises or operations,' the command, which oversees the vast majority of America's B-52s and other bomber fleets, also told Air & Space Forces Magazine in a statement. Sending six B-2s to Diego Garcia in March was already a major show of force. This represents roughly a third of the 19 of these stealth bombers currently in operational Air Force service. Only a portion of the B-2 fleet is actually available for mission taskings at any one time, too. The B-2s are the Air Force's preeminent aircraft for prosecuting penetrating nuclear or conventional direct strikes deep inside heavily defended enemy territory. The stealth bombers also offer a unique conventional strike capability against deeply buried and otherwise hardened targets through their ability to drop 30,000-pound-class GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) precision-guided bunker buster bombs. B-2s, each of which can carry a pair of MOPs on a single sortie, are the only aircraft currently certified to employ these weapons operationally. In April, U.S. officials told TWZ that, despite reports at the time, B-2s flying from Diego Garcia had not dropped MOPs on Houthi targets in Yemen. Since March, B-2s forward-deployed to the Indian Ocean island have conducted strikes targeting the Iranian-backed Yemeni militants using other still unspecified munitions. B-2s flying from their main operating base in Missouri had also struck the Houthis last October with a still unknown mix of weapons. Questions have emerged previously about the utility of employing B-2s, which are very expensive to operate and maintain, against a non-state group like the Houthis. At the same time, the Yemeni militants have demonstrated that they have air defense capabilities that present real threats. This, in turn, may have contributed to the use of stealthy aircraft like the B-2 and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, as well as a noted increase in the employment of air-launched stand-off munitions by non-stealthy U.S. aircraft. The Houthis have succeeded in downing an alarming number of U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones. You can read more about what we know about Houthi air defenses in this recent TWZ feature. | The Houthis show footage from the shootdown of another U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper I'm not mistaken, that would be the 20th MQ-9 downed by the Houthis from Yemen. — Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (BlueSky too) (@Archer83Able) April 18, 2025 Yemeni Houthis (Ansar-Allah group) claim that they have shot down yet another (26th) US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone today (April 22, 2025) in the Al-Hajjah is the 7th Reaper shot this April (22nd in the recent war after Oct 7, 2023). — Mehdi H. (@mhmiranusa) April 22, 2025 As already noted, sending such a large number of B-2s to Diego Garcia had also sent signals well beyond Yemen, particularly to Iran. TWZ had highlighted the strategic messaging factor of employing the stealth bombers after the October 2024 strikes on the Houthis. Diego Garcia was used for years as a launchpad for bomber sorties against targets in Afghanistan and Iraq. The U.S. military has also previously sent B-52s to the Indian Ocean island amid heightened tensions with Iran in the past, though they do not offer the penetrating and GBU-57/B employment capabilities of the B-2. B-52s have dropped MOPs during testing, but are not cleared to do so on operational missions. B-52s can employ a wide range of other munitions, including AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) cruise missiles and smaller precision-guided bunker-buster bombs. It's interesting to note that Gebara also highlighted the value of having a mix of stealth bombers like the B-2s and the incoming replacement B-21 Raiders, and non-stealthy B-52s, at yesterday's hearing before the House Armed Services Committee. The Air Force's B-52 fleet is in the process of being massively upgraded and is expected to continue serving through at least 2050, as you can read more about here. 'The decision to go forward with the B-52 was a decision made several years ago in that we needed a high-low mix of capabilities,' he said. 'So, it would not be cost-effective to the American taxpayer to have all high-end, exquisite things when many missions could be done with the proverbial 'old truck' that's paid for and we just need to do some upgrades to it.' The current massing of the huge force of U.S. heavy bombers on Diego Garcia now does follow the announcement of a ceasefire deal between the U.S. government and the Houthis on May 6, which officials in Oman helped broker. There is already skepticism about whether the agreement will hold, especially given that the Iranian-backed Yemeni militants have pledged to continue their campaign against Israel. The Houthis say they will continue to target Israel until it stops its operations in the Gaza Strip, which first began in response to attacks launched by Palestinian terrorist groups in the enclave on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel, just this week, has conducted its own major airstrikes on Yemen's port of Hodeidah and the international airport in the country's capital Sanaa. Breaking: Israel just obliterated Hodeidah port, the largest port of Yemeni Houthis, with 50 massive bombs — Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) May 5, 2025 Some of the first footage from tonight's unilateral strikes by the Israeli Air Force against Hodeidah in Houthi-controlled Western Yemen, which is reported to have heavily targeted a cement factory on the outskirts of the city as well as the Port of Hodeidah. — OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) May 5, 2025 The IDF published images of Houthi targets struck at Sanaa airport. — Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) May 8, 2025 The U.S. government is also currently engaged in negotiations with Iran, primarily over the latter country's nuclear ambitions. In recent months, President Donald Trump and other American officials have threatened direct action against Iran should those talks fall through, as well as over Tehran's continued support of regional proxies like the Houthis. 'I would much prefer a strong, verified deal where we actually blow them up … or just de-nuke them,' Trump said just yesterday during an interview with radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt. 'There are only two alternatives there, blow them up nicely or blow them up viciously.' Trump on Iran talks:"I would much prefer a strong, verified deal where we actually blow them up — blow them up or just de-nuke them. "There are only two alternatives there: blow them up nicely or blow them up viciously." — Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) May 8, 2025 'Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis,' U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also notably wrote in a post on X on April 30. 'We know exactly what you are doing. You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing.' Message to IRAN:We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing. You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing. — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) May 1, 2025 There are reports that Hegseth's comments were among the factors that prompted Iran to pressure the Houthis into the ceasefire deal with the United States. Swapping out the B-2s for the B-52s on Diego Garcia could align with the current focus on diplomatic efforts, while still retaining additional heavy airpower assets for use in future operations targeting the Houthis or Iran. B-2s can and do perform non-stop global power strike missions from the United States, as was demonstrated in the strikes on Yemen last year, and the bombers could still take part in future operations in the region if called upon. Other factors, including the cost of sustaining a deployment of six B-2s on the Indian Ocean island, could also contribute to a decision to send the B-2s back to their home base following the arrival of the B-52s. The B-2 fleet has unique maintenance requirements, and some of the stealth bombers now at Diego Garcia could require work that cannot be performed at this kind of forward location. There is the possibility, though it seems less likely, that a combined force of B-2 and B-52 bombers will remain in place at Diego Garcia for the foreseeable future. Doing so could help step up pressure on Iran and its regional proxies like the Houthis. At the same time, the satellite imagery in hand now of the increasingly tightly packed conditions at the airfield on the island does underscore the limited infrastructure there, especially when it comes to enclosed shelters. The initial deployment of the B-2s in March had already highlighted the lack of shelters at Diego Garcia. This, in turn, had further fueled a heated debate over whether the U.S. military should be investing more in hardened aircraft shelters and other fortified infrastructure at key facilities globally, particularly airbases across the Indo-Pacific region, amid the possibility of a future high-end fight with China. Part of why Diego Garcia is so strategic is that its remote physical location has historically helped reduce vulnerability to attack, especially from smaller countries like Iran. However, the array of potential threats to the island, particularly from missiles and drones, continues to grow. You can read more about the hardened infrastructure debate and how it applies to Diego Garcia specifically in this past TWZ feature. For the moment, at least, 10 U.S. heavy bombers do look to be arrayed at the Indian Ocean outpost. Howard Altman contributed to this story. Contact the author: joe@
Newsweek
05-05-2025
- General
- Newsweek
US Redeploys Pacific Warship As Iran Threat Grows
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 United States destroyer, USS Milius, which is based in the Western Pacific Ocean, is now operating in Middle Eastern waters as part of the American military presence aimed at Iran. Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Central Command and the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, which oversee military operations in the Middle East, for comment by email. "The U.S. Navy is a professional maritime force, focused on ensuring that we maintain the capabilities to deter, defend against, and, if necessary, defeat aggression," the U.S. Seventh Fleet, which operates in the Western Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean, told Newsweek. The United States Navy destroyer USS "Milius," right, pulls alongside the dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS "Amelia Earhart" for an underway replenishment in the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility in the Middle East... The United States Navy destroyer USS "Milius," right, pulls alongside the dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS "Amelia Earhart" for an underway replenishment in the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility in the Middle East on April 27, 2025. More U.S. Navy Why It Matters Newsweek previously reported that the Milius and its sister ship, USS Ralph Johnson, which are assigned to the Destroyer Squadron 15, have been operating in the Indian Ocean over the past month. The squadron is the Japan-headquartered Seventh Fleet's principal surface force. The Pentagon is reinforcing its force posture in the Middle East amid continued tensions with Iran over the nuclear talks, as well as the attacks on ships in the Red Sea by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Several American warships operating in the Western Pacific Ocean were re-tasked earlier to the Middle East, including a naval strike group led by the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. What To Know An official released photo reveals that the Milius shifted its operating area to the Central Command's area of responsibility on April 25. The destroyer, which is homeported in Japan and joined the Destroyer Squadron 15 in 2018, was still in the Indian Ocean the day before. While another official photo, which was taken on April 24, mentioned the Milius was part of the Destroyer Squadron 15, the warship is now operating as part of the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group. Satellite imagery captured the aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea on April 24. 🇺🇸Carrier Strike Group 8 & 1🇺🇸 CSG 8 (Truman) & CSG 1 (Vinson) continue operations in @CENTCOM area of responsibility Red Sea (23 Apr): CVN-75, 3x Arleigh Burke, 1x Ticonderoga Arabian Sea (24 Apr): CVN-70, 1x Arleigh Burke, 1x Ticonderoga@Schizointel — MT Anderson (@MT_Anderson) April 24, 2025 The Milius, which is one of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, provides what the U.S. Navy called "multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities." This class of multi-mission surface combatant is capable of operating independently or as part of a carrier strike group. In addition to the Milius, USS Wayne E. Meyer, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that was initially assigned to the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group for a deployment in the Western Pacific Ocean, has been operating with the Carl Vinson in the Middle East since at least April 13. Apart from the Milius and the Wayne E. Meyer, three other warships were assigned to the Carl Vinson; the cruiser USS Princeton, as well as a pair of destroyers, USS Sterett and USS William P. Lawrence, the U.S. Naval Institute News reported on April 28. An F/A-18E fighter jet launches from the United States Navy aircraft carrier USS "Carl Vinson" in the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility in the Middle East on April 30, 2025. An F/A-18E fighter jet launches from the United States Navy aircraft carrier USS "Carl Vinson" in the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility in the Middle East on April 30, 2025. U.S. Navy What People Are Saying The U.S. Seventh Fleet told Newsweek: "The U.S. [Seventh] Fleet operates its forces from the Western Pacific to the Indian Ocean, promoting regional stability and maritime security in support of a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific." The U.S. Central Command said: "Crews embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) resupply at sea and operate 24/7, targeting Iran-backed Houthi terrorists within Houthi controlled areas of Yemen." The Harry S. Truman is the second U.S. aircraft carrier deployed in the Middle East. What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether the Ralph Johnson will become the next Japan-based U.S. warship to join the combat operations in the Middle East or remain in the Indian Ocean.
