As the USS Carl Vinson departs, Houthi militants escalate attacks on commercial ships, raising concerns over maritime security.
The United States Navy’s Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) has departed the Middle East and is reported to be in the Indian Ocean. The third oldest US Navy carrier had spent three months deployed to the region, after deploying from San Diego in November.
As of Tuesday, the warship has been at sea for 238 days. According to USNI News, it was “one of the longest deployments for West Coast-based carriers since the Houthis began attacks in the Red Sea.” CVN-70 had been one of several US Navy flattops deployed to the region since Hamas carried out its attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel responded by invading Gaza, and even now, there are few signs of a permanent ceasefire.
USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and her carrier strike group (CSG) are now operating in the Arabian Sea, while USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is heading to the Mediterranean Sea. The rotating carrier presence has been ongoing for so long that it has come full circle, as CVN-78 first deployed to the eastern Mediterranean in October 2023 and had her deployment extended twice.
The US Navy has also reduced the number of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers in the region. There had been five on station to intercept ballistic missiles fired at commercial shipping and Israel, but USNI News also reported that only USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) remains present.
The Houthis Are Attacking Ships in the Red Sea Again
Over nearly two months from the middle of March to early May, the United States Navy carried out Operation Rough Rider, the largest US military operation in the Middle East since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. It targeted the Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen, striking the group’s radar systems, air defenses, and even missile and drone launch sites.
A ceasefire was brokered by Oman, with the Houthis agreeing to halt attacks in the Red Sea. However, both sides claimed the other had backed down.
It is unclear if the peace will hold, as the Houthis resumed attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, and there has been widespread speculation that the group was encouraged or at least emboldened by Tehran. In the span of just a few days, the militants sank two commercial ships.
Instead of missiles and airborne drones, the Houthis engaged the Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged MV Magic Seas on July 6 with drone boats and skiffs, firing rocket-propelled grenades and sinking the cargo ship. Crew members were forced to abandon the vessel, but were later rescued.
A day later, another attack was carried out on the MV Eternity City. It was also Greek-owned and sailing under a Liberian flag. At least four crewmen were killed, while the militants have claimed that they are holding surviving crewmembers.
Why Did the Houthis Break the Ceasefire?
Following both attacks, the Houthis claimed the vessels had violated a ban on visiting Israeli ports. Since the start of the hostilities, the Houthis have targeted more than 70 ships, but only two have previously sunk.
There has been speculation that Tehran had urged the Houthis to carry out the attacks to draw the US Navy’s CSGs as far away from the Iranian coast as possible. The attacks would have required advanced planning and several hours to carry out.
The Wall Street Journal has questioned why there wasn’t a greater response, including as the attack on the MV Eternity City unfolded.
“Two ships desperately tried to fight off Houthi attacks. Help never arrived,” the paper of record wrote.
Washington has not responded as to whether the attack violated the fragile ceasefire with the Houthis. Still, the State Department has maintained that the US Navy will maintain a presence and react accordingly.
“The United States has been clear: we will continue to take necessary action to protect freedom of navigation and commercial shipping from Houthi terrorist attacks, which all members of the international community must condemn,” the State Department statement explained.
“These attacks demonstrate the ongoing threat that Iran-backed Houthi rebels pose to freedom of navigation and regional economic and maritime security.”
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image Credit: Shutterstock/EddieHart.
