“National Interest”: The US Navy Struggles to Face Houthi Challenges in the Red Sea
NYN | Reports and analyses
The American magazine National Interest has highlighted the shortcomings of the US Navy in addressing threats posed by Yemeni forces. This follows recent attacks targeting two American destroyers in the Red Sea, which the magazine described as exposing significant vulnerabilities in the surface fleet, resulting in a major embarrassment for the United States.
In a report published on its website on Friday, the magazine detailed the attacks launched by Yemeni forces using ballistic missiles and drones, which the Pentagon has confirmed. The report emphasized that “these incidents shed light on the technical and operational challenges faced by the US Navy in dealing with such advanced threats.”
An Unprecedented Security Breach
The report noted that Bill LaPlante, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, described the recent Houthi attacks as an unprecedented achievement. He referred specifically to an incident in June where a ballistic missile launched by Yemeni forces nearly struck the American aircraft carrier Eisenhower, coming within just 200 meters.
The report revealed that these incidents prompted US forces to take precautionary measures, including pulling aircraft carriers out of high-risk areas due to their apparent vulnerability. Instead, the Navy shifted its reliance to smaller surface ships, such as destroyers, though these too have proven susceptible to similar threats.
Criticism of the US Navy’s Approach
The magazine added that while the US Navy insists it possesses the capabilities to counter these threats, the reality reflects weaknesses in its response. This raises concerns about the surface fleet’s readiness to handle greater challenges, particularly in the event of a conflict with China.
The report argued that the Houthis have effectively demonstrated “serious vulnerabilities” in US defense systems, further noting that “current events provide America’s adversaries, especially China, with practical lessons on exploiting such weaknesses in the future.”
Yemeni Forces’ Strategic Attacks
On Tuesday, Yemeni forces announced the execution of two strategic military operations, with the first targeting the US aircraft carrier Abraham in the Arabian Sea and the second targeting two US destroyers in the Red Sea. The spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Yahya Saree, confirmed that the operations, which lasted for eight hours, were carried out using cruise missiles and drones, achieving their objectives successfully.
Saree stated that the first operation successfully thwarted a US plan to conduct hostile aerial operations against Yemen, while the second operation accurately targeted the two destroyers.
The National Interest report concluded by emphasizing that the Houthi attacks serve as a strategic lesson for America’s more advanced adversaries. It warned that such challenges are likely to intensify in the event of a military confrontation with major powers like China.
