Washington [US], April 11: A second U.S. aircraft carrier has arrived in the Middle East, where Pentagon forces are conducting near-daily airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.
The USS Carl Vinson, which is equipped with F-35C stealth fighters, is now in service with another U.S. aircraft carrier, the USS Harry S. Truman, in the area, Reuters reported on April 11, citing a statement from the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
"The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) with an air crew consisting of F-35C Lightning II fighters fought alongside the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in the area in charge of U.S. Central Command," according to a statement on CENTCOM's X account (formerly Twitter name).
Last week, the Pentagon announced it was increasing the number of U.S. aircraft carriers in the Middle East to two, after launching the latest air campaign against the Houthis in Yemen to end its attacks on maritime trade and military vessels in the region.
A U.S. defense official said Pentagon forces have struck more than 100 targets, including command and control facilities, as well as weapons production sites and warehouses, in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen since March 15.
Despite the ongoing U.S. military operation, the Houthis continue to claim to be bombarding U.S. and Israeli ships passing through the Red Sea.
The deployment of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier to the Middle East also comes as the U.S. and Iran prepare for direct talks and U.S. President Donald Trump ordered preparations for a possible military attack.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on April 10 that the U.S. will hold direct talks with Iran this weekend to discuss Tehran's nuclear program, Reuters reported today.
The talks will take place between U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and a senior Iranian official in Oman. President Trump has previously warned that Iran will be in a dangerous situation if the negotiations do not succeed.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
