The Yemen Conflict: America’s Costly Struggle in the Red Sea
The Yemen Conflict is proving to be a significant drain on U.S. military resources, as highlighted by a recent report from Politico. Despite launching nearly 800 missiles and conducting multiple airstrikes against Houthi forces since November, the U.S. military has seen little success and faces an indefinite commitment in the region.
President Joe Biden claims that the United States is not engaged in any wars worldwide. However, the situation over the Red Sea tells a different story. The Yemeni army, in retaliation against U.S. and allied support for Israeli military actions in Gaza, has targeted ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden with missiles and drones. These attacks are set to continue until the Israeli offensive and its support cease.
Since November, the U.S. forces have been engaged in their most sustained military operations since the air campaign against ISIS in Iraq and Syria from 2016 to 2019. This conflict, overshadowed by more prominent global issues like the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, remains a critical point of tension. An anticipated Iranian attack on Israel could further entangle U.S. forces in the region, relying heavily on regional resistance forces in Lebanon and Yemen.
Admiral George Wikoff of the U.S. Navy’s Central Command noted that the Yemeni forces are well-armed with robust supply lines, posing a significant challenge. The prolonged deployment of U.S. warships in the Red Sea, aimed at intercepting drones and missiles targeting commercial vessels, is impacting future global deployment decisions. This ongoing mission has frustrated U.S. lawmakers, who are now under pressure to increase the Pentagon’s budget beyond what the Biden administration had planned for the coming year.
The U.S. Navy argues that one of its primary responsibilities is to protect commercial shipping, and the global community shares this responsibility regarding the Yemen Conflict. However, the burden largely falls on American ships, which are increasingly challenged by waves of inexpensive, mass-produced drones from the Houthis. This situation forces the U.S. to expend millions of dollars on missiles in a seemingly endless mission.
During a nine-month deployment in the Red Sea, the USS Eisenhower launched over 135 Tomahawk missiles, each costing more than $2 million, against Yemeni forces. Additionally, the ship fired 155 Standard missiles, priced between $2 million and $4 million each, to intercept drones. F/A-18 aircraft aboard the Eisenhower launched 60 air-to-air missiles and 420 air-to-surface weapons during military operations.
Dana Stroul, a former senior Pentagon official for the Middle East, admitted that it is difficult to argue that freedom of navigation in the Red Sea has been restored. Despite months of attacks, the Houthis have intensified their campaign, even targeting Tel Aviv with drones. As such, it is challenging to claim that navigation freedom has been reestablished.
Mike Waltz, chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, noted that the precision anti-ship and air-to-ground missiles used in Yemen are the same types of weapons that would be central in any conflict with China. Consequently, China emerges as the ultimate beneficiary, as the U.S. fleet is being worn down, and missiles needed for defense against a potential Taiwan scenario are being expended.
