UK contemplates new mission for aircraft carriers against Yemeni militias amidst US absence
One of the naval aircraft carriers from London, the HMS Queen Elizabeth or the HMS Prince of Wales, may be dispatched to the Red Sea. This possibility has not been entertained before due to the US aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower already in the region.
Jan 31, 2024 | updated: 4:35 AM EST, March 7, 2024
Defence Minister James Heappey stated that there was no need for the Royal Navy's most powerful warships in that area previously.
The UK has been conducting ground operations, deploying RAF Typhoon jets from Cyprus. According to The Sun, the Eisenhower needs to dock for essential maintenance.
"When the Eisenhower returns to its home port, we are considering a few rearrangements. We are ready to deploy our forces to fill any gap if the situation escalates," said Heappey.
The Ministry of Defence affirmed that any carrier deployment would be "based on operational needs". "Any decisions regarding aircraft carrier deployment will be made in cooperation with our allies," a spokesperson for the ministry said.
Britain considers dispatching aircraft carrier to the Red Sea
The Houthi rebels continue to cause havoc in the Red Sea, obstructing the passage of merchant ships from across the globe. American and British forces strive to maintain the route's availability for conducting sea raids.
The Sun reports that hundreds of Houthi recruits were trained by Iran's terrorist army, The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. These military units are utilized in attacks on sea transport units. The actions of the pro-Palestinian Yemeni Houthis are driven by retaliation for the war in Gaza. Most often, however, their victims are suppliers without connection to the conflict.
