Bomb-laden carrier amid strikes on Iran-backed Houthis

A striking image released by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) shows rows of air-dropped munitions being prepared aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, underscoring the scale and intensity of ongoing American operations targeting Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen.

The photo, posted to CENTCOM’s official social media account, captures Navy ordnance crews — identifiable by their red shirts and helmets — arming carrier-based aircraft amid a backdrop of stormy skies and Super Hornet fighter jets.

Arming aircraft aboard USS Harry S. Truman for operations against Iran-backed Houthis…#HouthisAreTerrorists pic.twitter.com/tLrXQsu314

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 7, 2025

The caption accompanying the image reads: “Arming aircraft aboard USS Harry S. Truman for operations against Iran-backed Houthis… #HouthisAreTerrorists.”

The image highlights the sheer volume of ordnance being brought to bear, with what appear to be dozens of precision-guided bombs, likely including Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs), lined up for loading. Such munitions are commonly used in high-precision strikes against infrastructure, launch sites, and command nodes.

The USS Harry S. Truman is part of a U.S. naval task force operating in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden as part of continued efforts to degrade the Houthi militia’s capabilities following a series of missile and drone attacks targeting international shipping lanes.

In March 2025, U.S. forces carried out more than 47 airstrikes across multiple provinces in Yemen, focusing on what CENTCOM described as Houthi-controlled military facilities, weapons depots, and missile launch platforms. In retaliation, the Yemeni army claimed responsibility for targeting the Harry S. Truman using a combination of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones in a series of escalating assaults. The attacks, aimed at U.S. and allied assets operating off Yemen’s coast, highlighted the growing threat to naval operations in the region.

Over recent months, Houthi forces—widely regarded as a proxy of Iran—have launched repeated strikes against commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden. These operations have prompted a multinational response led by the United States and its allies under initiatives such as Prosperity Guardian, aimed at safeguarding freedom of navigation and deterring further aggression.

U.S. airstrikes have targeted radar sites, missile storage locations, air defence systems, and drone production facilities. CENTCOM continues to frame these operations as both defensive and necessary to prevent future attacks on civilian and military shipping.

The release of the image appears to serve both an operational and strategic messaging purpose: to reassure allies, signal resolve, and deter adversaries by showcasing the scale of U.S. readiness and firepower.

The USS Harry S. Truman is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, named after the 33rd President of the United States.

Commissioned in 1998, it is the eighth ship of its class and forms the backbone of U.S. naval power projection.

The carrier measures approximately 1,092 feet (333 metres) in length and displaces over 100,000 tons fully loaded. It is powered by two nuclear reactors, allowing for nearly unlimited operational range and sustained high-speed transit across oceans without the need for refuelling. The ship can carry a complement of around 90 fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, primarily from Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1), and hosts a crew of over 5,000 personnel including sailors and air wing staff.

Equipped with advanced radar, electronic warfare systems, and layered defensive armament — including RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) and Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS) — the Harry S. Truman is designed to operate independently or as the flagship of a Carrier Strike Group (CSG). Its core mission is to provide sustained combat air power at sea, supporting operations ranging from deterrence and sea control to long-range strike and humanitarian assistance.

The ship has previously deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Inherent Resolve, and remains a key asset in America’s ability to respond rapidly to global crises.