US deploys Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group to the Middle East
To strike Houthi targets in Yemen
The Pentagon is sending the USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group (VINCSG) to the Middle East, following a resurgence in fighting between American forces and Houthi militants in Yemen. This marks the end of a two-month lull in hostilities.
The VINCSG recently concluded its deployment in East Asia, under the US 7th Fleet’s area of responsibility, and is set to head towards waters off the coast of Yemen.
The VINCSG is made up of the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), the embarked staff of Carrier Strike Group 1, Destroyer Squadron 1, Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW-2), and various support vessels, including the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS Milius (DDG 69).
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Carrier Air Wing 2, also aboard the USS Carl Vinson, comprises nine squadrons equipped with advanced aircraft, including the F-35C Lightning II, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes, CMV-22 Ospreys, and MH-60R/S Seahawk helicopters.
The USS Carl Vinson is the US Navy’s third Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. It was commissioned in 1982 and named in honour of former Congressman Carl Vinson of Georgia. The ship is one of 11 operational aircraft carriers in the US Navy. It carries more than 60 attack fighter jets, helicopters, and other aircraft, all of which take off and land aboard the carrier at sea.
Second CSG in region
The VINCSG will join the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, which has been deployed to the Middle East for an additional month. Together, the two carrier strike groups will form a formidable American force in the ongoing conflict with the Houthis, who control much of Yemen, including the capital city of Sana’a.
This dual-carrier deployment comes in response to a new wave of violence between US forces and Houthi militants. Since October 2023, the Houthis have launched multiple attacks on commercial ships transiting through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
These actions have been framed as retaliatory measures for Israel’s war in Gaza, with the Houthis seeking to target vessels supporting the Israeli government. In response, the US Navy and US Air Force have intercepted numerous rockets and drones fired by the Houthis and conducted airstrikes on Houthi-controlled regions in Yemen.
Ceasefire collapses
After a ceasefire was agreed in January 2024, both sides had paused hostilities, with the Houthis halting their attacks and the US refraining from further airstrikes. However, the ceasefire was shattered last weekend when the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group launched retaliatory strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen following the order of US President Donald J. Trump.
The attack came after the Houthis announced their intention to resume offensive operations in the Red Sea, prompting an immediate military response from the US.
The USS Carl Vinson and its accompanying vessels are expected to arrive in the Middle East between two and three weeks, where they will join forces with the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group.
The presence of two US carrier strike groups in the Middle East region will strengthen American military operations in the face of rising tensions with the Houthis, who remain a significant threat to commercial shipping in the strategic waters surrounding Yemen.
The VINCSG arrived in Guam on March 24, 2025, for a scheduled port visit. Guam, a key logistics hub for US military operations in the Pacific, plays a crucial role in supporting the US Navy’s efforts in the region.
US Rear Admiral Michael Wosje, commander of Carrier Strike Group 1, highlighted the importance of the visit, stating that it allowed the strike group to “recharge and resupply” in preparation for its upcoming mission in the Middle East.
The US Navy’s growing presence in the Middle East and around Yemen comes at a critical juncture in the ongoing conflict with the Houthis, who have shown little sign of backing down from their aggressive stance in the region.
Hero image: The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) transits the Surigao Strait, on December 22, 2024. Credit: US Navy
Last Updated on 4 days by Arnold Pinto
