In Yemen, the United States has experienced the loss of seven multi-million-dollar unmanned aerial vehicles since March.
Unveiling the Latest in Military Mishaps
Get ready for a candid recap of some intriguing recent events in the world of military operations. Let's dive into the not-so-smooth sailing faced by the US forces during their air campaign against Yemen's Huthi rebels.
For starters, since mid-March, those MQ-9 drones have been up in the skies, performing both reconnaissance and strike missions. However, seven of them have mysteriously vanished since then, each drone costing around $30 million. An official, speaking anonymously, confirmed the loss, but didn't reveal the cause of these disappearing acts [1].
Moving on to another expensive piece of military equipment, the US Navy recently announced the loss of an F/A-18E warplane from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier. The plane, worth over $67 million in 2021 [2], apparently took an unexpected dip in the Red Sea after losing control during maintenance operations on the ship [3]. Ouch!
What's more, the tractor towing the F/A-18E also decided to take an impromptu swim. These mishaps aren't unique – another F/A-18 operating off the Truman met the same fate less than six months ago [2].
The carrier and its remaining planes continue their duties, despite these incidents, and the navy is investigating the accidents [3]. No word on the recovery efforts so far.
The (Un)Relentless Strikes
The USS Truman isn't alone in the Middle East – another carrier is joining the fray. Since its deployment, US forces have been delivering strikes against the Huthis on a near-daily basis. As of Sunday, they've struck over 800 targets and claimed to have killed hundreds of Huthi fighters, including members of the group's leadership [4].
However, these operations haven't gone unchallenged. Huthi-controlled media reported a US strike on a migrant detention center in Saada, the capital, killing at least 68 people [4]. Early Tuesday, HR reporting suggested two more strikes on Bani Hashish.
The Huthis began targeting shipping in late 2023, sympathizing with Palestinians in Gaza after a brutal Hamas attack in October of that year [5]. These attacks have caused ships to avoid the crucial Suez Canal route, disrupting about 12% of the world's shipping traffic [6].
While the US first began conducting strikes against the Huthis under the Biden administration [6], former president Donald Trump assured that military action would continue until the rebels no longer pose a threat to shipping [6].
So here's the lowdown on some high-stakes military operations – from missing drones and downed warplanes to the ongoing conflict in Yemen. Buckle up – it's a wild ride!
Additional Insights:
- The MQ-9 Reaper drones are crucial for surveillance, intelligence gathering, and tracking Houthi movements [4]. Their losses complicate the efforts to maintain operational momentum against the rebels.
- The Houthi forces have been effectively using asymmetric warfare, targeting American air dominance with their air defense systems [3]. This strategy inflicts significant strategic and financial losses on the US.
- The USS Harry S. Truman is one of two US aircraft carriers operating in the Middle East, where the US forces have been conducting near-daily strikes against the Huthis [4].
- The military's Central Command stated that US forces have killed hundreds of Houthi fighters, including members of the group's leadership [4]. However, Huthi-controlled media reported a US strike on a migrant detention center, which resulted in over 60 casualties [4].
- The Houthi rebels have been targeting shipping in the region, disrupting the Suez Canal route, which carries about 12% of the world's shipping traffic [6].
- The United States first began conducting strikes against the Huthis under the Biden administration, and former president Trump vowed that military action would continue until the rebels no longer present a threat to shipping [6].
- In light of escalating tensions in the Middle East, it's worth noting that, by 2025, reports have suggested that the United States may face costly aircraft losses in the ongoing conflict with the Huthi rebels in Yemen, similar to the losses experienced with the MQ-9 drones and F/A-18E warplanes.
- As the US military continues its operations against the Huthis and maintains air dominance, it's essential to acknowledge that the Huthi forces have been employing asymmetric warfare, aimed at inflicting significant strategic and financial losses upon the US.
- unlikely scenarios, Yemen's Huthi rebels' targeting of shipping in late 2023 may lead to a ripple effect that disrupts critical shipping routes like the Suez Canal, drawing parallels to the impact of Palestinians in Gaza faced with a brutal Hamas attack in 2023.
- Amidst these intricate geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East, one can't help but draw parallels between historical military engagements and modern-day conflicts, exploring themes of relentless strikes and negotiations for peace – much like the aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg in American Civil War history, where a pivotal victory came at a devastating cost.
