Second US aircraft carrier arrives in Middle East

WASHINGTON — A second American aircraft carrier has reached the Middle East, where Washington’s forces are carrying out near-daily air strikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, the US military says.

The USS Carl Vinson — which is armed with F-35C stealth warplanes — is now working alongside the USS Harry S. Truman in the region, US Central Command says in a post on X that featured side-by-side video clips of aircraft taking off from the two ships.

The Pentagon announced last week that it was increasing the number of American carriers in the Middle East to two, after launching the latest round of its air campaign against the Iran-backed Houthis in March in a bid to end the threat they pose to civilian shipping and military vessels in the region.

Aircraft Carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) with its air wing consisting of F-35C Lightning IIs works alongside the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. pic.twitter.com/c2p4yxmBpj

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 10, 2025