NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — USS Dwight D. Eisenhower finally returned to Naval Station Norfolk on Sunday following a lengthy deployment.

The aircraft carrier in the strike group returned Sunday morning after a nine month deployment overseas. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower had its deployment extended twice amid conflict near the Red Sea from Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

While deployed, the Navy strike group defended off dozens of Houthi-employed one-way attacks on unmanned aerial, surface and underwater vehicles. These Houthi attacks were targeting critical shipping lanes, civilian merchant vessels and military units using the passage across the Strait of Hormuz, Gulfs of Oman and Aden, Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea.

This homecoming was one of several from the strike group. The USS Philippine Sea and USS Gravely also returned to Norfolk.