...................
Q: There have been some reports of two U.S. carriers moving to the Red Sea to help with the Ethiopia/Eritria conflict, in terms of evacuation.
A: It wouldn't be the Red Sea.
Q: The Red Sea.
A: To the Red Sea?
Q: Yes.
A: No, no. We have some ships off the east coast of Africa that have been participating in an exercise. That's an amphibious ready group centered around Boxer. But to my knowledge there are no ships moving into the Red Sea for that purpose.
Press: Thank you.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Feb1999/t02111999_t0211asd.html