The US-led military campaign targeting Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen has struggled to deliver on its central aims, namely restoring the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and reestablishing deterrence against attacks on international shipping, according to Western officials and regional security analysts. Over five weeks, the campaign has consumed more than a billion dollars in resources without stemming the surge of Houthi drone and missile strikes, which continue to imperil one of the world’s most vital maritime corridors.
The operation, launched in response to a wave of Houthi attacks disrupting global commerce, primarily relies on air strikes and naval firepower from two American aircraft carrier groups. Despite conducting hundreds of precision-guided strikes on suspected launch sites, storage depots, and command centers, the Houthis have maintained their ability to threaten shipping, adapting to evolving military tactics and using Iran-supplied weapons and logistical support.
Security officials with access to logistical data report mounting concerns that the high tempo of operations is rapidly depleting the US Navy’s stockpile of advanced munitions. Precision-guided weapon inventories, once considered robust, are being consumed at an unsustainable rate. This operational strain raises long-term questions about America’s ability to maintain similar campaigns elsewhere in the globe and highlights the inherent limitations of an airpower-centric approach against irregular, deeply entrenched adversaries such as the Houthis.
A Western military expert explained that air and naval superiority alone cannot decisively neutralize the asymmetric capabilities of groups like the Houthis. Their use of dispersed launchers, civilian cover, coastal terrain, and hardened positions has allowed them to withstand repeated bombardment and continue their campaign, blunting efforts to impose a durable deterrent.
In private briefings, former senior American defense officials have underscored the need to reassess existing strategy. They argue that without a significant ground component—potentially led by a multinational force and supported by airpower—the underlying threat will persist. This view has gained traction as the price tag for air operations continues to climb and international shipping stakeholders voice alarm over ongoing risks.
The broader strategic context for the campaign is Iran’s regionwide effort to destabilize American interests and Israel’s security via a network of proxy militias and terror groups. The Houthi campaign forms part of this axis, which also includes Hamas terrorists in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and affiliated forces in Syria and Iraq. Since the October 7, 2023 massacre—the deadliest antisemitic terror attack since the Holocaust—Tehran has intensified its multi-theater pressure against Israel, using its partners to open new fronts and threaten the region’s stability.
Despite the scale of American military involvement, the Houthis have proven resilient, underscoring the challenge of imposing meaningful costs through intermittent strikes. Intelligence officials note that Iranian support enables continual Houthi adaptation, both in replenishing missile inventories and deploying new tactics. Maritime and military officials now warn that shipping through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait remains under direct threat; commercial operators have diverted vessels, adding weeks to transit times and driving up global shipping costs.
Regional states, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, have supported US operations with intelligence and logistics but have hesitated to commit ground troops, wary of the risks of entanglement in Yemen’s complex war. Allied officials stress that an effective deterrent requires multinational consensus and operational unity, potentially including a coordinated ground initiative to deny the Houthis operational depth and secure key maritime approaches.
In Jerusalem, Israeli leaders continue to monitor developments in Yemen closely. While Israel maintains the capability to launch targeted airstrikes if required, officials caution that independent Israeli operations in the Yemeni theater would carry enormous risks with limited strategic benefit, absent broader coalition action.
The persistent threat to Red Sea navigation highlights the scale and complexity of Iran’s campaign against Western and Israeli interests. The ability of Houthis to sustain attacks despite overwhelming American firepower has forced defense planners to recognize the limits of technological superiority alone in modern asymmetric conflict. Absent a decisive shift in strategy, including the potential for multinational ground operations, the Red Sea is likely to remain a frontline in the ongoing war against Iranian-backed terror networks.
The situation in Yemen underscores Israel’s broader security environment, in which Iranian proxies continue to target the Jewish state and its allies on multiple fronts. The imperative to restore deterrence, defend international commerce, and confront Iranian-sponsored terror remains central for both Jerusalem and Washington as they navigate a complex and rapidly evolving regional landscape.
