The crews of the US aircraft carrier USS George Washington and guided-missile destroyers operating in the Arabian Sea have been placed on heightened alert amid a potential threat from Yemen’s Houthi movement in the Red Sea, CBS News reports.
The heightened state of readiness comes as Houthi forces, also known as Ansar Allah, have reportedly advanced along Yemen’s Red Sea coast towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategically important maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
According to CBS News, the US Navy has increased the readiness of its forces in the region over concerns that the Houthis could pose a threat to shipping and US military assets in the Red Sea.
Last week, Houthi forces reportedly seized the port city of Mocha, Reuters reported, citing sources. The movement has also taken control of the sections of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline that had previously been held by government forces.
The developments have raised concerns over the security of one of the world’s key maritime routes. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a major gateway for commercial shipping travelling between the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean.
Meanwhile, Axios reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had spoken twice by phone with US President Donald Trump, urging Washington to launch strikes against Houthi positions. Trump reportedly declined the request.
By Vugar Khalilov
