U.S Navy Faces Most Intense Combat Since World War II Against Houthis

After fighting the Soviet Union, Russia, and China in the waterways, the U.S. Navy has another battle at sea, the most intense since World War II ended. This time, the enemy is the Iranian-backed Group, the Houthis based in Yemen, who have been targeting commercial shipping since November 2023.

The U.S Navy is trying to secure the world’s waterways amidst never-ending drone and missile attacks by the Houthis in the Middle East. Since November 2023, 50 ships have been targeted, and shipping has decreased in the Red Sea, with many ships rerouting around the southern tip of Africa, increasing shipping costs and time.

Houthis claim to support Palestine and demand an end to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, which has killed thousands of civilians, especially women and children. However, it seems that Houthis are also using this opportunity to strengthen their position in the region.

Cmdr. Eric Blomberg said that the U.S. Navy has to get it wrong once, and the Houthis just have to get one through, which explains the seriousness of the situation.

He outlined how sometimes sailors just have seconds to confirm a Houthi missile launch and be ready to retaliate. Captain David Wroe said this has been happening every day and on every single watch, and some of the U.S Navy Ships have been in the Red Sea for over seven months.

Apart from Ramadan, when the firings slowed down, Houthis launched drones, missiles and other attacks on ships in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb and the Gulf of Aden.

Bryan Clark, a former Navy submariner, said that this is the most sustained combat the Navy has faced since the Second World War. He noted that Houthis can launch attacks that the U.S. might not be able to stop each time, and one wrong move could lead to massive damage.

U.S Navy destroyers like Laboon spend 6 out of 7 days close to Yemem in the weapon engagement zone, per the Navy. Laboon is joined by USS Cole, which was targeted by al-Qaida in 2000, leading to the death of 17 sailors.

Laboon and Cole were patrolling the Red Sea when Houthis launched a drone attack on a commercial vessel, which was later abandoned and left adrift in the Red Sea.

Rear Adm. Marc Miguez, the Navy commander for Carrier Strike Group Two, said that they were sure that Iran was offering funds to the Houthis along with intelligence support and training to attack shipping. He also said that Iran provides weapons to the Houthis despite U.N. sanctions.

The U.S also carried out strikes against Houthi bases in Yemen, targeting the Group’s radar stations, arsenals, and storage sites, and one of the attacks killed 16 people on May 30, 2024.

U.S Navy officials said that Houthis have surface-to-air capabilities, which the U.S Navy has exhausted.

Naval Officers have acknowledged grumbling among crew members wondering why the U.S does not take strict action against the Houthis. The Houthis campaign is not being discussed at the same level as the Israel-Hamas war in the White House.

There are many reasons for the same, including the U.S trying to decrease tensions with Iran, which is enriching uranium close to weapons-grade levels.

Then there are the Houthis, who fought the Saudi coalition in a stalemate which spilt into a broader crisis, killing over 150,000 people and leading to a humanitarian disaster.

Though the U.S has patrolled the critical shipping lanes targeted by Houthis, Saudi Arabia has been seeking a peace agreement with the Houthis. Per reports, a few Middle Eastern Countries have told the U.S not to attack Houthis from their land.

This has made the presence of USS Eisenhower quite critical as the carrier’s deployment has been extended, and its crew members have had just one port call.

Houthi attacks have badly impacted global shipping. Egypt’s revenue from the Suez Canal has fallen drastically since the attacks began, and AP journalists just a single vessel passing through the once bustling waterway.

References: AP News, Economic Times

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