The US Navy has relieved the captain of a destroyer tasked with protecting the aircraft carrier USS Roosevelt in the Middle East. The decision comes after a photo surfaced showing the captain, Cmdr. Cameron Yeast, holding a rifle with the scope mounted backwards.

The photo, which was posted on the Navy's official Instagram account in April, sparked widespread ridicule and criticism on social media. The Navy eventually deleted the image.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Yeast, who commanded the USS John McCain, was relieved of his duties last Friday. A Navy statement cited "a loss of confidence in his ability to command the guided-missile destroyer," currently stationed in the Gulf of Oman.

The statement did not elaborate on the reasons for Yeast's removal.

The incident comes as the US has formed an international maritime coalition in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea to counter attacks by Houthi rebels against commercial vessels. The attacks have disrupted shipping in the strategically important region, which handles 12% of global trade.

Since November 2023, the Houthis, designated as a terrorist group by several countries, have continued their missile and drone attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Gulf of Aden.

These attacks have led to increased maritime insurance costs and prompted many international shipping companies to opt for the much longer route around the southern tip of Africa.

To deter the Houthis and protect maritime navigation, the US established a multinational coalition in December 2023. US forces have also conducted strikes against Houthi military targets on occasion.