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A top official within the United States Navy has confirmed that the service has engaged in nearly 400 defensive operations against Houthi-launched drones and missiles in the Red Sea over the past 15 months.
Some shit you should know before you read: Shortly after Israel launched its ground operation in Gaza following the October 2023 Hamas attacks, the United States began defending against Iranian-backed Houthi militants in the Red Sea, as the group intensified assaults on commercial and military vessels in the region. The Houthis have targeted oil tankers, merchant ships, and US Navy vessels, claiming their actions are in retaliation for US support of Israel and as part of their vow to disrupt shipping until a ceasefire in Gaza is reached. Since November 2023, there have been over 100 incidents involving attacks and attempted hijackings, with two vessels sunk, four mariners killed, and two seriously injured.
What’s going on now: While speaking to Navy officers at a conference in Arlington, Virginia, Vice Adm. Brendan McLane revealed that the US Navy has conducted 380 engagements against Houthi drone and missile attacks in the Red Sea over the past 15 months. In total, the Navy has fired 220 missiles, including 120 SM-2 missiles, 80 SM-6 missiles, and 20 Evolved Sea Sparrow and SM-3 missiles, along with 160 rounds from 5-inch deck guns. The cost of these missile expenditures alone exceeds $500 million, with SM-2 missiles priced at approximately $2.1 million each, SM-6 missiles at $3.9 million, and SM-3 missiles ranging between $9.6 million and $27.9 million apiece. These figures do not account for additional costs, such as the Tomahawk cruise missiles used to strike Houthi positions in Yemen or the operational costs of assets in the region.
McLane noted that many of these engagements were large-scale, involving multiple incoming threats. For example, in one recent incident, the destroyer USS Spruance defended itself by shooting down three anti-ship ballistic missiles, three anti-ship cruise missiles, and seven attack drones.
This all comes as the United States waits to see if the Houthis will end their attacks in the Red Sea following a ceasefire deal reached between Hamas and Israel in Gaza. Regardless, US officials have noted that the Houthis’ capabilities have significantly deteriorated in part due to sustained US airstrikes targeting their missile and drone infrastructure. Additionally, the US has ramped up its efforts to intercept Iranian vessels suspected of smuggling weapons to the Houthis, further limiting their ability to replenish their arsenal. Previous seizures have included shipments of advanced missiles, drones, guns, munitions, and other military equipment.
