The Aircraft Carrier "Harry Truman" Under the Sharp Blade of Yemeni Missiles

TEHRAN (Defapress) - Yemen's Ansar Allah has been a significant actor in the Yemen war, exerting considerable influence on regional and global equations. One of the most critical aspects of their activities has been their attacks on U.S. and allied regional interests, resulting in financial and strategic losses. This analysis examines the extent of the damages inflicted on the U.S. by this movement, Washington's responses, and the success of CENTCOM in countering Yemeni resistance.

Since the start of U.S. and British airstrikes against the oppressed people of Yemen, the White House has claimed that its goal is to eliminate the Ansar Allah movement and "liberate" the Bab al-Mandab Strait from their control. Donald Trump, at the outset of the bombings that began on March 15, asserted that Ansar Allah would be swiftly defeated. Thus, the airstrikes were launched from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, with the objective of completely destroying Ansar Allah within less than a week. However, nearly a month into the bombings, this goal remains unfulfilled.

Media reports also show that since the beginning of the US-Yemen war, more than $1 billion has been spent by the US on this war, but the achievement they wanted has not been achieved; therefore, this proves the speculations of the failure of the airstrikes. In just three weeks, the Pentagon, in addition to huge operational and personnel costs, has used $200 million in ammunition to deploy two aircraft carriers, B-20 bombers, and additional fighter jets, as well as Patriot and THAAD air defenses in the West Asia region.

CNN reported on this issue, stating: "The U.S. military action against Yemen has cost about $1 billion so far but has had 'limited impact in degrading Ansar Allah capabilities.'" The American network, citing three unnamed sources, revealed that the U.S. military offensive over the past three weeks (since March 15) has involved hundreds of millions of dollars worth of munitions, including long-range JASSM cruise missiles, JSOW guided bombs, and Tomahawk missiles.

Media reports suggest that Ansar Allah has not only retained its underground weaponry but that the U.S. has been indiscriminately bombing civilian areas while military targets often remain unharmed. This has allowed Ansar Allah's anti-ship missiles and drones to continuously engage U.S. naval forces in the Red Sea—a clear indication that the U.S. military operation in Yemen has failed.

Despite extensive bombings and atrocities, the U.S. has been humiliatingly ineffective in countering missile attacks, a fact repeatedly emphasized by Ansar Allah officials.

Abdul-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi, the leader of Ansar Allah, stated:
"The Americans will never achieve their sinister objectives in these aggressions, nor will they ever be able to halt our operations in support of Gaza."

He added:
"What matters is that we have reached the stage of direct confrontation with the Israeli and American enemies, and this is part of our battle."

On the other hand, the U.S. miscalculation in engaging Ansar Allah has not only failed to stop the movement's attacks but has also depleted America's strategic weapons reserves, which are being wasted on futile strikes against Yemeni civilians. Moreover, some analysts believe that excessive use of sea-to-surface missiles could hinder the U.S. in a potential military conflict with China.

Ansar Allah’s missile and drone units have targeted U.S. and allied interests through various means, including missile, drone, and naval attacks. Below are some of their most significant operations that have caused financial losses:

Ansar Allah has repeatedly targeted commercial vessels and oil tankers linked to the U.S. and its allies in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. These attacks have increased shipping insurance costs, forced rerouting, and driven up global transport prices. Some reports suggest these actions have cost the global economy, and particularly U.S. interests, tens of billions of dollars.

The movement has also frequently attacked U.S. military bases in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. For example, the 2019 strike on the Al-Kharj base in Saudi Arabia caused heavy damage to Aramco’s oil facilities, temporarily spiking oil prices. That single attack inflicted an estimated $100 billion in losses on the global economy.

The U.S. has been forced to deploy additional naval forces and defense systems to the region to counter Ansar Allah’s threats, costing hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Despite military actions, sanctions, and diplomatic pressure, Washington has so far failed to effectively contain the movement.

The U.S. has repeatedly bombed Ansar Allah’s alleged positions in Yemen and targeted some of its commanders. However, these strikes have not significantly degraded the group’s military capabilities, as it employs asymmetric warfare tactics—using a combination of drones and missiles to strike CENTCOM’s multi-billion-dollar fleet.

Has the U.S. Succeeded in Controlling Ansar Allah?
Despite heavy military and economic expenditures, the U.S. has failed to contain Ansar Allah for the following reasons:

High adaptability in asymmetric warfare against the U.S.-Zionist enemy.

Effective missile and logistical capabilities, with Ansar Allah commanders demonstrating strategic precision in targeting sensitive objectives.

U.S. reluctance to engage in a full-scale war in Yemen due to high financial and human costs. As the war continues, Ansar Allah gains more experience in fighting the U.S., posing a serious challenge to the U.S. Navy.

What Weapons Does Ansar Allah Use Against the U.S. and Israel?

"Palestine-2" Hypersonic Missile
Over the past 18 months, Ansar Allah has launched over 370 missiles and drones toward occupied territories, including the "Palestine-2" hypersonic missile. This missile features advanced maneuvering capabilities, including Atmosphere-Skipping Technology, making interception extremely difficult.

Leni Ben-David, an expert at the Jerusalem Center for Public and Diplomatic Affairs, stated:
"The Iron Dome will certainly struggle against these upgraded Houthi missiles. Even the 'Arrow' system, designed to intercept ballistic missiles, will not be fully effective against them. Recent upgrades to Houthi ballistic missiles allow them to suddenly change trajectory mid-flight."

"Toofan" (Storm) Missile
First seriously tested in 2023, this missile has a 2,000 km range, capable of hitting distant targets. Field reports confirm its use against occupied territories, particularly the port of Eilat.

 "Palestine-1" Missile
With a range exceeding 1,800 km, this missile was first launched toward occupied territories in January 2024.

"Quds-1" Anti-Ship Cruise Missile
Ansar Allah employs a combination of drones and anti-ship cruise missiles (including the 1,500 km-range Quds-1) in maritime attacks. The movement also possesses other missiles and drones, such as the "Sayyar," "Qaseem," "Badr," "Burkan," "Zulfiqar," and "Samad," previously used against Saudi Arabia and hostile forces.

While the U.S. military has managed to neutralize some of Ansar Allah’s attacks (albeit in a limited way), the movement remains a serious threat to the Zionist Washington’s regional interests.