New Aircraft Carrier Moved Near Yemen To Protect Commerce: White House

The primary goal for moving an aircraft carrier off the coast of Yemen is to protect the free flow of commerce in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, but is also mindful of efforts by Iran to supply arms to Shiite-linked Houthis, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Tuesday. There have been numerous reports quoting unnamed Pentagon officials that the USS Theodore Roosevelt is keeping watch over an Iranian flotilla that could be delivering arms to the militants. Earnest noted that the United Nations has put an arms embargo against key Houthis leaders, who forced Yemeni President Adeb Rabbo Mansour to flee the country. Saudi Arabia has been conducting airstrikes against Houthis.