U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier Leaves Red Sea After Houthis Stop Attacks On Ships

U.S. Navy’s Aircraft Carrier USS Harry S. Truman and her escort vessel, the destroyer USS Jason Dunham reached Crete’s U.S Naval Support Base on February 6, 2025, to undergo maintenance.

The U.S. Navy ships are returning after spending 2 months in the Red Sea, fighting Houthi attacks on ships. This recent port visit was possible due to the recent ceasefire in Gaza after which attacks on U.S. Ships and commercial vessels in the Red Sea have stopped.

The carrier was in the area of responsibility since December 14, when Turman along with Dunham, and destroyer USS Stout and cruiser USS Gettysburg also arrived at the scene. Per reports, the group carried out several multiple defence strikes against Houthis in Yemen and airstrikes against ISIS in Somalia, Africa.

Houthis had earlier claimed 8 attacks against Truman, employing missiles and drones, which forced the carrier group to leave the theatre of Operations, per Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree. CENTCOM did not reply to this claim but did say that the cruisers and destroyers shot several drones and missiles.

USS Harry S. Truman is docked at the US Naval Support Activity Center, Souda Bay in what the Navy calls a ‘working port visit.’

The Truman Carrier Strike Group is described as the most lethal and adaptable in the theater, per Rear Admiral Sean Bailey, the group’s commander. He also added that this visit allows the opportunity to reset and undergo maintenance so the ships are ready for future operations.

Though attacks have been halted, operations have not ceased in the Red Sea. Italian frigate Federico Martinengo crossed the Suez Canal in January to be a part of the EUNAVFOR Aspides Operation.

She carried out a protection mission on Jan 31, 2024, where she escorted container ships from CMA CGM and on Feb 5, 2025 when she protected container vessels from Linea Messina and CMA CGM.

Many shipping carriers believe it is very soon to return to the Red Sea. Houthis have said they would pause most attacks as long as the ceasefire is sustained, but they would target Israeli ships.

References: Zona Militar, USNI News

Source: Maritime Shipping News