U.S. Navy Increases Presence in Mediterranean Amid Houthi Attacks
In response to recent Houthi attacks, the U.S. Navy has increased its presence in the Mediterranean Sea. Three more destroyers have joined the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which has been operating in the region since Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
The U.S. ships Carney and Mason have been busy intercepting Houthi attacks in recent weeks, with the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group already having its own two destroyers and cruiser escort in the Mediterranean.
The missile-defense destroyers Laboon, Delbert D. Black, and The Sullivans have arrived in the Mediterranean over the past week, adding to the U.S. presence in the region. However, defense officials have not commented on whether the ships are heading to the Red Sea.
The increased deployments of ships and Houthi attacks come as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is slated to travel to the Middle East next week to respond to a spike in Iran-backed attacks on American forces in the region and contain the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Additionally, the Biden administration is working to form an international maritime task force to counter the Houthi attacks, in collaboration with an existing coalition of 39 nations focusing on countering piracy and terrorism in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb waterway, and Gulf of Aden.
Harald Solberg, the head of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association, has expressed deep concern over the threat to ships in the Red Sea, calling for all actors in the region to quickly de-risk the threat for civilian shipping and ensure the world’s most important supply lines are kept open.