After recent successive operations by the Yemeni Armed Forces in the Red Sea, which directly targeted and hit it twice in two days, the US aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower retreated back more than 200 kilometers towards the northern Red Sea.
Military observers have noted a change in the landing area for Eisenhower’s logistical support aircraft from a point off the Abha region in Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea to a point at least 200 kilometers away off the coast of Jeddah.
This withdrawal comes despite the United States’ attempts to deny that the $13 billion aircraft carrier was targeted.
Tensions have escalated between the US Navy leadership and the US Central Command yesterday after the Eisenhower carrier fleet was repeatedly targeted in the Red Sea.
American media reported that Navy commanders sent a new memorandum to the US Secretary of Defense requesting urgent approval to withdraw the aircraft carrier ‘for maintenance,’ indicating that the message was sent after he signed an extension for another month’s stay.
Sources indicated that Navy leadership confirmed that the warships in the Eisenhower fleet are in dire need of maintenance and their crews need rest due to increasing daily fatigue.
The Associated Press reported from US defense sources that there are intense disagreements between the US Central Command, which views the withdrawal of the aircraft carrier at this time as a victory for Yemen, and the Navy leaders who insist the naval vessels need urgent maintenance.
On late Saturday, the Yemeni armed forces announced in a new statement that six military operations targeted the aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower, US destroyer, and other ships.
The attack came after US aircraft carrier was hit with missile strikes on Friday.
