USS Harry S. Truman Exits Yemeni Waters

The USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) and its accompanying 8th aircraft carrier strike group have departed the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, passing through the Suez Canal and currently operating in the Ionian Sea. The withdrawal of the strike group follows a de facto cessation of hostilities between the United States and the Yemeni movement “Ansar Allah” (Houthis), attributed to the Pentagon’s assessment of the limited effectiveness of airstrikes on Houthi positions.

The USS Harry S. Truman, escorted by the cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG-64) and destroyers USS Stout (DDG-55), USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109), and USS The Sullivans (DDG-68), entered the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility on December 14, 2024, after transiting the Suez Canal. According to USNI News, the strike group participated in Operation Prosperity Guardian, which aimed to protect shipping in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks while conducting strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. Since March 2025, the carrier group has executed over 1,000 strikes against Houthi positions, including weapons depots and launch sites, but these efforts have not significantly degraded the Houthis’ military capabilities.

The Houthis began their campaign of attacking shipping in the Red Sea in October 2023 in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Since then, they have conducted more than 170 attacks using missiles, drones, and naval mines, causing many vessels to reroute through the Cape of Good Hope, resulting in a 15 to 20 percent increase in shipping costs. The USS Harry S. Truman has faced multiple attacks, with the Houthis claiming to have targeted the carrier seven times between January and April 2025, including an assault involving 18 ballistic and cruise missiles in March. While the Pentagon has not confirmed any damage, an F/A-18E Super Hornet crashed into the sea on April 28 while executing evasive maneuvers, raising concerns about operational safety.

The ceasefire between the US and the Houthis was facilitated by negotiations in Oman. The Houthis agreed to suspend attacks on US vessels in exchange for an end to US airstrikes on Yemen, although they continue to fire rockets at Israel. Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam indicated that their naval blockade is limited to Israeli ships until the ceasefire in Gaza is achieved. US officials, reported that the US does not intend to replace the USS Harry S. Truman with another aircraft carrier in the region, signaling the conclusion of the active phase of the operation.