05-05-2025
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.
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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.
