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America’s huge aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush, one of the world’s most powerful warships at sea, is leaving the straight path and taking a long detour.
This ship has now covered one and a half times more distance and is coming close to Iran after circling Africa completely. According to reports, the route to the Red Sea is full of danger from Houthi rebels. To avoid this, this American supercarrier is forced to take a long route.
According to Forbes report, American carriers pass through the Red Sea via Gibraltar, the Mediterranean Sea and the Suez Canal. But this time the US Navy has not chosen this path.
The carrier is accompanied by three destroyers and approximately 6,000 sailors. The strike group is headed for a Middle East deployment, two U.S. officials told AP.
America scared of Yemen’s Houthi rebels
It is not common for this most powerful American ship, considered to be the most powerful, to take such a long route. The Pentagon has not officially explained the reason, but indications are clear that by taking the route to Africa the ship is avoiding the Red Sea and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.
In recent years, this area has been made unsafe by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. These Houthi rebels are supported by Iran and in the past they have carried out drone and missile attacks on important sea routes such as the Red Sea and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. This is the reason why even the world’s most powerful navy is now avoiding going through that route.
American and merchant ships were targeted in Houthi attacks in 2024 and 2025. In recent months they have also threatened to resume attacks, making the area unsafe.
American ship is avoiding Bab-el-Mandeb Strait
The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait is counted among the most important sea routes in the world. It connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and every year about 20 thousand ships pass through here.
About 10% of global trade passes through this route, especially for the supply of oil and gas. This route is also geographically challenging. Its narrowest point is about 32 kilometers wide and it is divided into two parts.
A deep and wide passage, the western Duct-el-Mayoun Channel is about 16 miles wide where larger ships operate. Another narrow passage, the eastern channel Bab Iskandar, is about two miles wide and is used by small ships.
Earlier the danger here was due to natural causes like rocks and strong winds, but now the biggest danger has become due to increasing geopolitical tension.
American warship going to Middle East
USS George HW Bush is the 10th and last Nimitz class nuclear powered supercarrier of the United States. Nimitz is a special class of America’s largest and most powerful warships, which run on nuclear energy and on which fighter aircraft are deployed.
This ship is deployed with about 6000 sailors and aircrew and three destroyers are also operating with it. It left the US’s Norfolk base in late March and was recently spotted near the coast of Namibia.
According to reports it is heading towards the Middle East. Where it can join with USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been operating in that area since February.
Presence of another supercarrier
Meanwhile, America’s newest and largest supercarrier USS Gerald R Ford is also deployed near this area.
It has most recently been operating out of Split, Croatia, in the eastern Mediterranean. However, it is not clear whether it will cross the Suez Canal and go to the Red Sea or not, because the danger there still remains.
The ship suffered a fire in March, after which it was taken to Crete and then to Split for repairs. Now it has become active again.
