Ike Carrier Strike Group Enters Gulf Waters
The aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower and its carrier strike group have entered the Persian Gulf after transiting the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first carrier to operate in those waters since September 2020. The group includes destroyers Mason and Gravely, cruiser Philippine Sea, and Carrier Air Wing 3. While responding to a distress call in the Gulf of Aden, the Mason encountered ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. No damage or injuries were reported, and the crew of the commercial vessel is safe. The transit through the strait is crucial for maintaining regional security and stability, with over 500 ships passing through it weekly. The deployment to the Middle East was prompted by heightened tensions in the region, including attacks on U.S. troops and intercepting missiles and drones fired by Iran-allied Houthi rebels in Yemen.