The US Maintains Precarious Navy Presence in the Gulf of Oman, the Red Sea
US on the 'Edge' of Conflict, Political Commentators Write
Overt Operator
November 14, 2023
The Navy aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) and its accompanying escorts are currently operating in the Gulf of Oman after departing from the Red Sea over the weekend, according to a report by USNI News.
Based on publicly available satellite imagery, the USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker confirmed that the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, also known as Ike, and its escorts were located off the coast of Oman as of Monday. The carrier had previously transited through the Suez Canal on November 4, passing through the Red Sea and the Bab el Mandeb to reach its current position.
This deployment is part of the broader United States naval buildup in Europe and the Middle East, which has been prompted by recent Hamas attacks outside of Gaza and the ongoing conflict in Southern Israel.
While the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower operates in the Arabian Peninsula, the carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) and its escorts are stationed in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, alongside the U.S. command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20), the amphibious warship USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19), elements of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and warships from France and the United Kingdom.
In the northern Red Sea, the USS Bataan (LHD-5), USS Carter Hall (LSD-50), and the rest of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit have been stationed alongside a group of guided missile destroyers. Last month, the USS Carney (DDG-64) successfully intercepted a series of drones and land attack cruise missiles launched by Houthi militants from Yemen over the Red Sea. In recent developments, Houthi militants have pledged to target Israeli ships in the Red Sea.
To prevent the conflict from spreading beyond Israel, U.S. warships and other units have been deployed to U.S. Central Command. The Pentagon has noted an increase in attacks by forces sympathetic to Hamas on installations in both Iraq and Syria. Currently, the U.S. has approximately 3,400 troops split between Iraq and Syria, standing on "the edge of conflict" political analysis magazine The Hill commented.
As of Thursday, nearly 50 attacks have been carried out on U.S. installations in both Syria and Iraq.
On Sunday, the U.S. Air Force conducted two airstrikes in Syria, but further details were not provided.
The presence of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and its escorts in the Gulf of Oman reflects the ongoing efforts of the U.S. military to counter regional threats and maintain stability in the Middle East.