U.S. Navy Deploys Aircraft Carrier That Dumped Osama Bin Laden’s Body To Middle East

U.S. Navy announced the deployment of a second carrier group to the Middle East, in response to growing Houthi attacks on shipping.

Spokesperson of the Pentagon, Sean Parnell stated on April 1, 2025 that the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson would join Harry S.Truman in the Middle East to uphold regional stability and protect maritime trade and commerce.

Carl Vinson will arrive after completing its scheduled exercise. The news came amidst U.S. forces hitting Yemen with near-daily air strikes to prevent Houthis from attacking civilian and military vessels.

USS Carl Vinson was also the ship from whose deck the body of Al Qaeda Group leader Osama Bin Laden’s body was given a ‘sea burial’, after he died in a U.S Marine strike in Pakistan in 2011.

Per a navy release, Carl Vinson, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group ONE, left for the Persian Gulf on March 28, 2025.

The deployment of more U.S. forces to the Middle East comes after the news of B2 stealth fighters and Globemaster transport aircraft being sent to the Diego Garcia base which could be used in attacks against Houthis in Yemen and Iran, said to be backing the group with information and ammunition.

By doing this, US President Trump aims to maximise pressure on Iran to negotiate regarding its nuclear programme and to stop Houthis from attacking ships in the region.

USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) is the third Nimitz-class Supercarrier with armaments including Mk 57 Mod13 Sea Sparrow Launchers, RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile Launchers and Phalanx CIWS.

It has been a part of several military operations in the past, such as Operation Desert Strike, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

References: Al Jazeera, WION, AL Monitor

Source: Maritime Shipping News