The Wall Street Journal reported on the 13th, citing a senior US official, that since the US military began its blockade of maritime traffic in and out of Iranian ports that day, more than 15 US warships have been put in place to support the operation.
The report, citing a report from the UK Maritime Trade Operations office, noted that Iranian ports as well as coastal areas of the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and parts of the Arabian Sea were implementing maritime transit restrictions.
The Associated Press on the 14th cited two Pentagon officials as saying that the US has deployed 16 warships in the Middle East, but none in the Persian Gulf. The US military has not provided further details.
USS Bush Reroutes Around Africa to the Middle East
The Wall Street Journal also cited two US officials as saying that the US aircraft carrier USS Bush is currently sailing off the coast of Africa, heading to the Middle East to take part in the Iran conflict.
The report states: “The unusual route of the USS Bush—circumnavigating the Horn of Africa rather than transiting the Mediterranean—suggests an intent to avoid the Red Sea, where it might be targeted by Iran-backed Yemen's Houthis.”
US Naval Institute News first reported that the USS Bush is currently operating in waters near Namibia. Typically, US aircraft carriers departing from the US East Coast transit the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean to reach the Middle East. Taking the Africa route allows the aircraft carrier to avoid the Red Sea and Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.
Earlier that day, there were reports stating that navigation data showed the USS Bush had entered the Mediterranean Sea.
In the foreseeable future, the USS Bush will form a “three-carrier” deployment alongside the USS Lincoln and the USS Ford carrier strike groups in the Middle East.