Recently, there has been an incident in the international news that has attracted widespread attention, that is, the news that the US aircraft carrier "Ford" plans to leave the Middle East. According to US media reports, the aircraft carrier was originally sent to the eastern Mediterranean Sea after Hamas retaliated against Israel in October 2023 to demonstrate US military power. Now, however, it is about to flee, which is likely to keep Israel awake at night.
American aircraft carrier "Ford".
Let's take a look at the situation of the aircraft carrier "Ford" first. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is 333 meters long and can carry more than 75 carrier-based aircraft, including F-35C Lightning II fighters and F/A-18E/F Hornet strike fighters, making it a mobile military base of great strategic value. The Ford-class aircraft carrier uses a number of innovative technologies, such as electromagnetic catapults and advanced landing interceptor cable systems. However, the application of these innovative technologies also brings challenges, resulting in delays in service dates, cost overruns, and the need for repeated re-fines due to problems such as electromagnetic catapults and ammunition lifts.
The US aircraft carrier "Ford" can carry more than 75 carrier-based aircraft.
At the same time, there was a fierce clash between US warships and the Houthis in the Red Sea, which reportedly could be a reason for the USS Ford's planned departure from the Middle East. This clash is the first direct confrontation between the US military and the Houthis. The Houthis have previously warned that they plan to strike at ships linked to Israel or heading to the port, and have called on other countries to withdraw their crews from these vessels and not approach targeted ships at sea.
U.S. warships clashed fiercely with the Houthis in the Red Sea.
In the incident on December 31, 2023, the Houthis tried to board the container ship "Maersk Hangzhou", which was sailing in the southern part of the Red Sea, and after receiving a distress signal from the vessel, the US military came to the rescue, shot down an anti-ship ballistic missile fired at it, and sank three Houthi ships, resulting in the disappearance of Houthi fighters on board. The U.S. Navy said it was in response to Houthi attempts to board cargo ships and subsequent small arms attacks.
Maersk Merchant Marine (data map)
However, the Houthis claim that they are acting in support of the Palestinians, not a show of force. They also warned that any actor who seeks to escalate the conflict must bear the consequences of his actions. The incident caused a number of major shipping companies, including Maersk and several others, to suspend their voyages in the Red Sea.
Houthi fighters
So, who will take Ford's place after it leaves? The only one is the USS Eisenhower, which is also a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. He has been in service since 1977 and has participated in numerous military operations, including the Gulf War in the 1990s. Therefore, the old "Eisenhower" was naturally questioned.
US aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower.
The Israeli media expressed concern about the departure of the Ford. Haaretz's analysis believes that the reduction of US naval forces does not bode well for Israel. While the United States has been Israel's strong backing, some of Netanyahu's inappropriate remarks seem to have undermined trust between the two sides.
The ninth and thirteenth Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Ladies and gentlemen, what do you think of this issue? Will the departure of the "Ford" have a major impact on the stability of the Middle East? Can the old "Eisenhower" take over the role of the Ford? Are Israel's concerns reasonable? Feel free to leave your views in the comment section and let us discuss them together.
Brigadier General Yahya Saliah, the military spokesman for Yemen's Houthi rebels.