U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered the USS Carl Vinson, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier operating in the Pacific, to redirect to the Middle East, where it will join the USS Harry S. Truman, already engaged in operations against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The strategic redeployment, confirmed by a U.S. official on Friday, extends the Truman’s mission beyond its scheduled return to Norfolk, Virginia, and marks a significant escalation of American naval power in the region amid rising tensions with Iran.

Hegseth signed the orders on Thursday, extending the Truman’s deployment by at least a month and prolonging the Vinson’s tour by three months, ensuring two carrier strike groups in the Middle East—a rare move not seen consistently in years.

The decision follows intensified U.S. strikes on Houthi targets, with the Truman’s group, including three destroyers and a cruiser, active in the Red Sea since December 2024. The Vinson’s shift from the Indo-Pacific, a Trump administration priority, underscores a pivot to counter Iran’s proxies.

The Houthis, striking over 100 merchant vessels since late 2023 in solidarity with Gaza’s Palestinians, have drawn Trump’s ire. On March 15, he ordered “overwhelming lethal force” against them, with Hegseth vowing an “unrelenting” campaign until their attacks cease. Iran, accused of arming the rebels, faces warnings of accountability, though its Revolutionary Guard denies direct control.

This dual-carrier presence aims to secure navigation in the Red Sea, a vital trade route, amid Houthi missile and drone assaults. As tensions simmer, the U.S. signals resolve against Iran’s regional influence, reshaping its military footprint to confront escalating threats.