Eastern Mediterranean — Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have continued attacking commercial vessels in the vital shipping lanes of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden despite counterstrikes against the group by the U.S. and Britain. The Houthis claim the attacks are against ships linked to Israel and its allies — in support, they say, of Palestinians as the war between Israel and Hamas tears apart the Gaza Strip.
The U.S. military said two missiles were launched at an American owned ship late Thursday night in the latest attack, but the vessel and its crew were safe.
As the U.S. and its NATO allies prepare to hold their largest war games in years next week — exercises that will involve some 90,000 troops — Charlie D'Agata joined the crew aboard the American amphibious assault ship USS Bataan as it plies the waters of the eastern Mediterranean.
The hulking U.S. warship and, the U.S. Marines on board, are patrolling the waters off the shared western coastlines of Israel, the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, to deal with whatever crisis may unfold as the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group threatens to spread across the region.
Troops of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
The troops of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, have been stationed on the Bataan for over six months. Originally in the Red Sea, the ship was moved to the Mediterranean due to the ongoing conflict in the region. Now, the troops have been deployed indefinitely and do not expect to return home anytime soon.
The Bataan is an amphibious assault ship and is considered a workhorse of the U.S. Navy. It has a short flight deck capable of launching Harrier fighter jets, making it a versatile asset for the Navy and Marine Corps.
Readiness Exercise
CBS News witnessed a show of force as the jets took off into the pitch dark overnight. This exercise serves as both a demonstration of power and a readiness exercise to keep the pilots and crew sharp.
Responding to Events in the Middle East
All of the equipment, aircraft, and personnel on board the Bataan are specifically tasked with responding to the fast-evolving events in the Middle East. This includes deploying Marines to areas where they are needed or assisting in the evacuation of U.S. citizens.
Ship-to-Shore Assault Teams
The Bataan is equipped with ship-to-shore land and sea assault teams that are ready to act at a moment's notice. The lead ship is prepared to spearhead a quick reaction force consisting of approximately 4,000 U.S. Marines and sailors.
For now, however, the mission is to keep training, to be ready, and to wait.
"Not going to lie," a U.S. Airman said after six months on the Bataan, "I've been thinking about the things that I want to do when I get back home — going out with friends, and spend time with family, have my wings and pizza when I get back, and some beer on the side. So, I do look forward to doing that when I get back."
The crew know they're in it for the long haul, even if nobody's sure quite how long that will be.
U.S. officials tell CBS News the ongoing strikes against the Houthis in Yemen have taken out most of the group's air defense systems, enabling the use of drones for increased surveillance of the militants' onshore activities. That expanded monitoring likely helped the U.S. and its allies carry out strikes in recent days that commanders say took out Houthi missiles that were on launchers, ready to be fired.
But the missiles continue flying out of the vast Houthi-controlled part of Yemen, forcing many international businesses to abandon the Red Sea as a vital trade route between Europe and the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean beyond.
Retaliation Against American and British Strikes in Yemen Inevitable
Thursday night, Houthi leaders again warned that their retaliation against the American and British strikes in Yemen was inevitable, and would continue.
