Pentagon expands Middle East militarization with warplanes, carrier

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
2 Apr 2025 01:10
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The United States is set to deploy additional aircraft squadrons to the Middle East, with a second aircraft carrier soon to join the region amid an aggression on Yemen and rising tensions with Iran.

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In this image released by South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, the US aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (left), the South Korean Navy's Aegis destroyer King Sejong, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's destroyer Kongou sail in international waters south of the Korean peninsula during exercises in 2024. (AP)

United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the deployment of additional warplanes to reinforce US military capabilities in the Middle East, chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated.

Hegseth also directed the USS Harry S. Truman, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 8, and its accompanying vessels to remain within the US Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility (AOR). The carrier was last confirmed in the northern Red Sea, where it has been serving as the primary launch pad for the US aggression against Yemen.

Further escalating the militarization of the region, the Pentagon announced that the USS Carl Vinson—along with the remaining warships of Carrier Strike Group 1—will enter CENTCOM’s AOR upon completing its current operations in the Indo-Pacific.

The Pentagon did not specify the type of aircraft that would be deployed in the region to bolster existing forces.

"To complement the CENTCOM maritime posture, the Secretary also ordered the deployment of additional squadrons and other air assets that will further reinforce our defensive air-support capabilities," the statement read.

At least four B-2 Spirit stealth bombers have been relocated to the US-British military base on Diego Garcia, a strategic island in the Indian Ocean. Analysts suggest the bombers are being positioned for potential strikes against Yemen, noting that they were previously deployed in a similar operation under the last administration.

Beyond Yemen, the deployment is widely seen as a direct signal to Iran, underscoring Washington’s military buildup as part of broader pressure tactics to force Tehran into accepting an unfavorable deal. Notably, the B-2 is capable of carrying GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs, designed to target deeply buried military and nuclear infrastructure, raising concerns that the move is also a preparatory step for strikes against fortified Iranian sites.

"Secretary Hegseth continues to make clear that, should Iran or its proxies threaten American personnel and interests in the region, the United States will take decisive action to defend our people," the statement concluded.