The Pentagon is keeping two U.S. Navy aircraft carriers stationed in the Middle East for at least another week as it continues a high-intensity campaign against the Yemen-based Houthi rebels.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has again extended the deployment of the USS Harry S. Truman and its strike group, marking the second such extension in just over a month.

The decision, signed Thursday by Hegseth, follows a direct request from Gen. Erik Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

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According to a U.S. official, the Truman and its accompanying warships will remain in the region to support ongoing operations and will likely return to their homeport in Norfolk, Virginia, after the week is up—assuming no further changes.

The dual-carrier presence, which includes the San Diego-based USS Carl Vinson, underscores the Pentagon’s commitment to a robust military posture in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

While the Vinson and its strike group operate in the Gulf, the Truman is positioned in the Red Sea alongside two destroyers and a cruiser.

The continued deployment comes amid a major escalation in the U.S. military’s campaign against the Iranian-backed Houthi forces, who have launched a barrage of drone and missile attacks against commercial and military vessels transiting the Red Sea.

Image Credit: DoD

Since mid-March, when President Donald Trump ordered a significant expansion of military strikes, American forces have been conducting daily attacks.

Trump vowed to apply “overwhelming lethal force” until the Houthis cease their attacks on maritime shipping in the region.

These attacks have disrupted a vital trade corridor that typically sees over $1 trillion worth of goods each year.

Between November 2023 and January 2024 alone, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels, sinking two and killing four civilian sailors.

These operations have drawn comparisons to the most sustained naval combat seen since World War II.

Central Command has characterized the ongoing effort—dubbed Operation Rough Rider—as an “intense and sustained campaign.” In a statement released over the weekend, CENTCOM reported that the U.S. has struck more than 1,000 targets in Yemen since the operation began.

However, it has not released detailed information about the nature of the targets or how they are identified and confirmed.

The U.S. military’s presence in the region has not been this extensive in years. “It has been rare in recent years for the U.S. to have two aircraft carriers in the Middle East at the same time,” noted a defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Navy leaders have typically resisted dual-carrier deployments due to their strain on ship maintenance schedules and the burdens placed on service members and their families.

The current high operational tempo has already delayed much-needed downtime for sailors who have been deployed for longer-than-anticipated missions.

Last year, under the Biden administration, the carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower remained in the Red Sea for months amid ongoing Houthi hostilities, and was part of what defense officials called the most intense running sea battle since the Second World War.

The Houthis had declared a unilateral ceasefire prior to March, temporarily halting attacks after months of maritime assaults.

But following the initiation of Operation Rough Rider, the group resumed its aggressive tactics, citing opposition to Israel’s military operations in Gaza as justification for their maritime campaign.

Despite the intensity of current U.S. operations, there is still no clear end in sight.

While officials have indicated that the Truman may return home within the next few weeks, much depends on the situation on the ground and the Houthis’ willingness to cease hostilities.

Should the campaign require additional military pressure, further extensions or redeployments remain on the table.

For now, the Pentagon’s decision to maintain two carrier strike groups in the region signals that Washington is prepared to invest heavily in safeguarding international shipping lanes and deterring Iran-backed proxy forces from threatening global commerce.

The decision also reflects a broader strategic pivot by the Trump administration toward using decisive military force to contain regional instability and reassure allies of U.S. resolve.

With more than 1,000 targets already struck and operations ongoing, Operation Rough Rider appears set to remain one of the most aggressive U.S. campaigns in the region in recent memory.

Whether the current approach will be enough to deter further Houthi attacks and restore safe passage through the Red Sea remains uncertain—but the Pentagon is not backing down.