A US retreat? Fearing missiles from Houthis and IRGC, famed carrier strike groups 'relocated' to safe distance

The USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike groups have reportedly abandoned their forward offensive positions to redeploy further away from the Iranian coast, according to satellite images. The decision was taken by US Central Command in light of increased threats from Iran and its proxies, as the aircraft carriers needed to be withdrawn from the immediate range of enemy missiles.

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The strike group led by the USS Gerald R. Ford was asked to move south in the Central Red Sea near the waters off Jeddah, while the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group moved to the southwestern waters of Oman near Salalah. The Gerald R. Ford is now beyond the known range of anti-ship missile systems in the possession of Houthi rebels in Yemen. Likewise, IRGC naval groups cannot immediately strike the Abraham Lincoln as a consequence of it moving 1,100 kilometres away from the Iranian coastline, from its previous location of less than 350 kilometres, Defence Security Asia said in a report.

"This adjustment represents a controlled reallocation of American naval assets rather than a withdrawal, as the carrier's operational range is maintained while reducing vulnerability to short-range anti-ship weapons, high-speed boat interference, and coastal missile systems that can threaten ships in disputed waters," the report said.

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The decision came not long after an escort ship operating with the Abraham Lincoln strike group was involved in an incident with an Iranian gunboat, and following Israel's admission that its stockpile of aerial defence missiles is gradually declining. Since being attacked by the United States and Israel more than two weeks ago, Iran has been regularly hitting Israel, American bases, and its Gulf Arab neighbours' energy infrastructure with drones and missiles.

Iran has also effectively stopped shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil is transported. Donald Trump made a call to all allies to intervene militarily to liberate Hormuz, but none have reacted.

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In Israel, 12 people have been killed by Iranian missile fire, and more have been injured, including three on Sunday. At least 13 US military members have been killed, six of whom died in a plane crash in Iraq last week. Meanwhile, more than 1,300 people have been killed in Iran so far, according to the Red Cross.