Would You like a feature Interview?
All Interviews are 100% FREE of Charge
A U.S. Navy carrier strike group battling the Houthis in the Red Sea is finally heading home after spending months in the region protecting shipping lanes from relentless attacks by Iran-backed rebels.
The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group departed the Middle East on Saturday for a short stay in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility before returning to the U.S. mainland. This will be the third unextended deployment of the ship.
Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement that the withdrawal from the base comes “after more than seven months of deployment in support of U.S. regional deterrence and force protection efforts.” statement.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, which is currently operating in the Indo-Pacific region, is scheduled to head to the Middle East soon for a strike group rotation.
The Eisenhower Strike Group, made up of the aircraft carrier USS Ike and several other warships, initially deployed to the eastern Mediterranean in October but quickly redirected to the Middle East to protect shipping lanes from relentless Houthi attacks.
Since then, Eisenhower Air Strike Force has intercepted numerous missiles and drones in the air and underwater, and conducted direct attacks on rebel positions in Yemen, combining coordinated attacks with British forces and pre-emptive strikes aimed at eliminating the threat before the Houthis can launch an attack.
“During their deployment, the IKE CSG protected shipping transiting the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Sea and the Gulf of Aden, rescued innocent mariners from unlawful attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and helped deter further aggression,” Ryder said.
The Navy’s asset realignment comes amid concerns about the long-term sustainability of the anti-Houthi operation: U.S. intelligence agencies suggested last month that the Houthi threat is likely to continue for the foreseeable future, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has already extended the deployment of the Eisenhower Strike Group twice.
During its operations in the Red Sea, the strike force fired more than 500 rounds of munitions with a total value of approximately $1 billion. Sailed over 55,000 milesThe company’s aircraft have also logged more than 30,000 flight hours.
Despite Eisenhower’s presence, the Houthis have continued their attacks on shipping lanes: Rebels have already attacked multiple commercial ships in June alone, including the first ship to be attacked by a Navy drone since the operation began in the fall.
Meanwhile, Ryder said the Roosevelt Air Force Base Strike Force will leave the Indo-Pacific region next week after scheduled exercises and head to the Middle East to “promote regional stability, deter aggression, and protect the free flow of commerce in the region.”