Fearing Attack by Pro-Iran Militias, US Aircraft Carrier Circles Africa to Reach the Middle East

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, WASHINGTON – The United States aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush, along with its escort ships, is sailing around southern Africa amid the US naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. This measure is taken to avoid the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb in anticipation of possible attacks from Houthi groups. This was reported by USNI News on Monday (13/4), citing defence officials. According to the report, for security reasons, the aircraft carrier did not pass through the Strait of Gibraltar to the Mediterranean Sea, which is usually the common route for East Coast-based aircraft carriers heading to the Middle East. The report states that the ship is now preparing to join the growing naval forces in the Arabian Sea. Earlier on the same day, US Central Command began enforcing a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz waterway as a follow-up to President Donald Trump’s directive after negotiations between Washington and Tehran failed to reach an agreement.