News - Yemen: Military expert and analyst Major General Khaled Ghorab stated that the Red Sea battle significantly drained American and European forces, catching Washington by surprise with the scale and capability of the forces they were facing.

In a special interview with Al-Masirah on Sunday morning, Ghorab explained that the US had assumed it could easily defeat the Yemenis and halt their military support operations for Gaza. However, US officials admitted that Washington faced a naval confrontation unlike anything seen since World War II. He emphasized that Yemen delivered profound lessons to the United States, prompting it to quickly end its aggression and retreat to save face.

Ghorab referenced recent remarks by US Vice President Vance, who acknowledged that the era of American dominance is over—a statement that, according to Ghorab, is a clear admission of the US Navy’s defeat in the Red Sea, including the depletion of its munitions and the exhaustion of its personnel.

He noted that previous US national security reports under Presidents Biden and "the madman" Trump had warned against engaging Yemen in naval battles, citing high costs and risks. For example, US forces were using $2–4 million missiles to intercept Yemeni drones costing as little as $4,000—or even $1,000 in the case of unarmed drones designed purely to create confusion.

Ghorab also revealed that personnel aboard the US aircraft carrier Eisenhower had their pay increased from $8,000 to $15,000 per month to incentivize them to remain in the Red Sea amid rising psychological stress and an unprecedented wave of suicides, which were being covered up. He added that the European military presence in the Red Sea was purely defensive and that Yemen’s targeting of a Danish frigate, forcing it out of service, led to the dismissal of Denmark’s air force chief and prompted European states to withdraw one by one.

Major General Ghorab concluded that the US had failed to cope with Yemen’s military advancements. Yemen's forces have not only outperformed but have also upgraded and modernized a wide array of weapons, employing advanced drone technologies and tactical plans that overwhelmed the American enemy in the Red Sea and ultimately forced the withdrawal of the Eisenhower and Truman aircraft carriers from service.

Since late 2023, Yemen has emerged as a key player in the regional axis resisting Israel’s war on Gaza. The Yemeni Armed Forces have launched a sustained campaign of missile, drone, and naval operations targeting Israeli interests and US military assets, particularly in the Red Sea. Framed as part of a broader effort to support Gaza, these operations have severely disrupted maritime traffic and challenged US naval dominance.

Despite multiple rounds of US-led airstrikes aimed at neutralizing Yemen’s capabilities, the country has continued to demonstrate military resilience. Using low-cost drones and missiles with high impact, Yemen has drained US resources, forcing the Pentagon to reassess its strategy. American aircraft carriers such as the Eisenhower and Truman were eventually withdrawn after suffering operational fatigue, psychological tolls on crews, and strategic setbacks.

Yemen’s campaign in the Red Sea not only exposed vulnerabilities in Western naval power but also signaled a shift in the region’s military balance. European forces, initially part of a US-led coalition, began withdrawing one by one following direct attacks, such as the disabling of a Danish frigate, and growing political pressure at home. The confrontation is now widely seen as one of the most significant naval standoffs since World War II.