By Hu Guan
According to US media reports on March 15, the US launched a large-scale military operation against Yemen's Houthi militants from the air and sea, targeting the Houthis' radars, air defenses, and missile and drone systems. The aim was to open up international shipping lanes in the Red Sea. US officials stated that this would be the most significant military operation since the start of President Trump's second term and was also intended as a warning to Iran.
Analysts pointed out that the Houthis' previous attacks on ships and aircraft of the US, the UK, Israel and other countries in the Red Sea have had a serious impact on these countries' shipping through the Red Sea. During the administration of then-US President Joe Biden, the US and the UK launched multiple air strikes against the Houthis but failed to effectively stop their actions in the Red Sea. This time, Trump once again took action against the Houthis, intending to severely damage their military capabilities and make them unable to launch attacks in the Red Sea again.
Reports from multiple sources indicate that since the Houthis seized Sanaa in September 2014 and forced the Yemeni government to relocate to the southern city of Aden, their military strength has expanded rapidly, and they have transformed from a guerrilla force to a conventional army.
According to the data from UN reports, the Houthis currently have over 350,000 combat personnel. Houthi-controlled media claim that they possess various advanced drones and missile systems, including the Yafa long-range multi-purpose drone. It is equipped with a highly explosive warhead and can evade radar detection, thus possessing strong penetration capabilities. Additionally, their Palestine-2 hypersonic missile has a range of up to 2,150 kilometers. It has high maneuverability and can bypass sophisticated air defense systems.
At present, the Houthis control about one-third of Yemen's territory and 70 to 80 percent of its population, including the capital Sanaa and the strategic Red Sea port city of Hodeidah. Their controlled areas also cover roughly two-thirds of Yemen's Red Sea coastline and their control radiates to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which has an important strategic position in global shipping.
In a statement, the Houthi leadership denounced the strikes as war crimes and said it was ready to respond to escalation with escalation. Analysts believe that while the US holds overwhelming military superiority, the Houthis have demonstrated resilience in past attacks launched by the US, the UK, and Israel. The Houthis have an independent military-industrial system and can effectively utilize asymmetric warfare tactics by deploying low-cost drones and missiles to strike adversaries. Besides, Yemen's complex terrain and strong public support for the Houthis in their controlled areas create intelligence challenges for their opponents and limit the effectiveness of US airstrikes.
