US Boosts Mideast Military Amid Iran, Houthi Tensions

The United States is augmenting its military presence in the Middle East by deploying a second aircraft carrier, the Carl Vinson, alongside the existing Harry S. Truman, as tensions with Iran and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen escalate. The move aims to enhance regional stability and protect the flow of commerce, especially amidst threats to shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden by the Houthis, who intensified attacks claiming solidarity with Palestinians. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized decisive action against any threats to U.S. personnel and interests, particularly from Iran or its proxies. This strategic military posture follows President Donald Trump's commitment to continue strikes on the Houthis until they cease their attacks on U.S. vessels. Concurrently, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) is embroiled in a legal dispute with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) over the abrupt termination of its grant, which RFE/RL argues was unlawfully revoked despite being congressionally appropriated.