U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has decided to extend the mission of the USS Gerald Ford nuclear aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean Sea for several more weeks. As a result, two aircraft carrier strike groups will remain close to Israel.
Their official mission is to deter adversaries of the Jewish state and ensure the protection of American forces deployed in Syria and Iraq. After October 7, Shiite groups operating in these countries issued threats against the United States.
However, the primary task for naval forces from various countries at the moment is to ensure freedom of navigation in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait off the coast of Yemen. Houthi rebels have declared their readiness to attack ships in any way connected to Israel.
This has led to significant disruptions in global logistics chains. Several leading shipping companies have already announced route changes. Their vessels will now circumnavigate Africa instead of using the Suez Canal.
