New satellite imagery shows the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea as the U.S. military increases its presence in the region for attacks against Iranian-backed Houthis and a potential strike on Iran over its nuclear program.
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Defense Department, Iran’s Foreign Ministry and Houthi officials for comment.
Why It Matters
The USS Carl Vinson’s deployment, alongside the USS Harry S. Truman, comes as Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, continue launching missile attacks that threaten one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes through the Red Sea.
President Donald Trump has pledged to destroy the group following its repeated attacks, deepening a confrontation that is increasingly tied to the broader U.S.-Iran hostilities over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
Although the United States and Iran have begun talks on the Iranian nuclear program, Trump has threatened to use military force if diplomacy fails.
European Space Agency
What To Know
Satellite imagery showed the USS Carl Vinson and its strike group operating in the Arabian Sea on Tuesday.
🇺🇸Carrier Strike Group 1🇺🇸
Spotted operating in the Arabian Sea, CVN-70 (USS Carl Vinson) and her escorts (14 April 2025) pic.twitter.com/RgaJilknJM— MT Anderson (@MT_Anderson) April 14, 2025
The USS Carl Vinson entered the Indian Ocean via the Malacca Straits earlier this month as the Pentagon announced the additional military deployment to the Central Command’s (CENTCOM) area of responsibility.
Earlier this week, satellite images showed the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in the Red Sea as it led an operation against Houthis, a U.S.-designated terrorist group in Yemen which has faced a month of air attacks.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump on Truth Social, Sunday: “Time for the terrorists to hide, but it won’t do them any good. Our Warfighters, the Greatest the World has ever seen, will find them, and bring them to swift Justice.”
CENTCOM: “24/7 strikes from USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) across multiple Iran-backed Houthi locations… #HouthisAreTerrorists”.
Brigadier Yahya Saree, spokesman for Yemen’s Houthi group on Telegram: “The Armed Forces reiterate that their military capabilities have not been affected, and that the ongoing American aggression against our country will only bring more disappointment and failure.”
European Space Agency
What Happens Next
The U.S. will continue to strike Houthi fighters in Yemen and maintain military readiness in case of need for a bigger operation, such as against Iran.