The White House has dispatched additional military resources to the Red Sea and the Middle East.
In its latest barrage targeting the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, U.S. troops struck a critical port in Yemen earlier this week, killing dozens. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a statement surrounding recent events, detailing that “Today, U.S. forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue … The objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis.” Since the temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas dissolved back in January, the designated Houthi terror group has launched frequent attacks targeting international vessels in the Red Sea with a special focus on American warships. As violence between the Houthis and the U.S. Navy continues to surge, the White House has dispatched additional resources to the region. Specifically, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has rushed a second carrier strike group, advanced bombers, air defense batteries, and more fighters to the Middle East.
USS Carl Vinson
Initially, the USS Harry S. Truman Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and its supporting vessels were solely responsible for thwarting Houthi-launched barrages in the Red Sea. However, Hegseth extended USS Carl Vinson’s scheduled deployment by three months, sending the carrier out of the Pacific and toward the Red Sea to support its sister Nimitz ship. The dual ship presence in these waters is meant to deter further hostilities from the Houthis and Iran’s other regional proxy affiliates. These nuclear-powered warships displace 97,000 tons and house a range of both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft like the F/A-18 Super Hornet and MH-60 Seahawk platforms.
B-2 bombers
As part of the Pentagon’s effort to beef up its defenses in the Middle East, at least half a dozen B-2 bombers were sent to the island of Diego Garcia. The presence of stealth aircraft in the Indian Ocean should serve as a major deterrent to Iran since the B-2’s extensive range now puts them in striking range of Tehran and its regional proxy groups. The B-2 “Spirit” is best known for its unique “flying wing” configuration, which makes the platform nearly impossible to detect. Armament-wise, the B-2 is virtually unparalleled. Capable of carrying up to 40,000 pounds of ordnance within two separate weapons bays, the Spirit is able to launch both nuclear and conventional bombs.
Patriot missile battery
Last month, U.S. officials opted to relocate the U.S. Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile defense batteries from South Korea to the Middle East. The highly mobile and versatile defense system is considered to be the best of its kind in service across the globe. While the Patriot is designed to intercept threats like aircraft and ballistic missiles, it is also capable of shooting down unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The Houthis’ larger drone stockpile can theoretically be thwarted by the presence of this air defense system.
The Iranian-backed group really does not stand a chance against top-of-the-line military systems like the Patriot, B-2 bomber, or Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
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