Yemen: As Yemen marks the anniversary of the expulsion of British colonial forces and the National Independence Day of November 30, a new chapter in the country’s struggle for sovereignty emerged on the global stage. The United States has issued its most explicit acknowledgment yet of a major erosion in its long-claimed air superiority—an admission Washington had avoided for decades.

The recognition came through the awarding of the Silver Star, the highest honor granted by the US Air Force, to officer William Parks for what Washington described as the “rescue of 5,000 American Navy personnel in the Red Sea” from what it called “the most severe threat since World War II.”

Military documents accompanying the award revealed that a US F-16 squadron under Parks’ command came under direct Yemeni air-defense fire, nearly resulting in the loss of the entire formation. The documents further stated that F-35 stealth fighters, considered the pinnacle of US aviation technology, faced their first real combat threat in more than 20 years.

The reports described Yemeni air defenses as having “neutralized the advantage of stealth technology,” undermining the foundation of American aerial doctrine.

Strategic Experts: A Historic Shift

Military strategist Brig. Gen. Mujib Shamsan told Al-Masirah that the timing of this admission—coinciding with the anniversary of the expulsion of British forces—was “a historic irony,” reflecting a shift in strategic balance. He said the same spirit that defeated the British Empire decades ago now confronts American military dominance.

Shamsan noted that the US has effectively lost secure air and naval access in the region. He explained that the Bab al-Mandab Strait is no longer a safe corridor for American aircraft carriers, nor for ships belonging to the Israeli enemy or the Saudi-UAE coalition, as Yemeni defenses have imposed new rules of engagement based on effective deterrence.

He added that the US has already withdrawn its carriers to the northern Red Sea due to Yemeni missiles, resorting instead to launching aircraft from Arab states involved in the aggression—a move he described as exposing the full dependency of those governments. The US ultimately deployed B-2 bombers after F-18, F-35, and F-22 fighters failed to secure safe operational conditions.

‘A Blow to US Deterrence Doctrine’

Military analyst Brig. Gen. Ali Abi Raad said the events represent a strategic strike at the core of America’s global deterrence posture. Despite its fleet of 3,800 fighter jets and 18,000 military aircraft, the United States found itself challenged by an unconventional Yemeni defense system that integrates anti-aircraft artillery, thermal missiles, shoulder-launched weapons, and optical radar.

He explained that Yemeni forces used an intermittent “open-close radar” technique, disrupting the F-35s’ ability to analyze radar signatures and forcing them to rely on thermal systems, consuming more fuel and leaving them exposed.

Abi Raad added that US aircraft were launched from Arab bases—not from American carriers—an implicit admission that carriers are no longer within a safe operational radius.

US after-action reports described “critical moments” when Yemeni missiles exploded only meters from an entire US squadron, a scenario that nearly resulted in the largest American air loss in decades.

Gen. Ken Wilsbach, commander of US Air Forces in the Pacific, was cited saying that Parks “saved the lives of 5,000 US Navy personnel”—a statement analysts say reflects the scale of the threat posed by Yemeni deterrence capabilities.

A New Balance in the Red Sea

The widening international acknowledgments indicate a new strategic reality: Yemen has imposed a balance of power that global actors can no longer ignore. The long-celebrated US notion of an “open sea corridor” has been replaced by a Yemeni equation—no safe passage for aggressor fleets, no immunity for American military assets near Yemeni waters.

According to military analysts, this shift has shaken the foundations of US naval doctrine, which relies heavily on air superiority as an operational umbrella. That assumption is no longer guaranteed.

Experts argue that Yemen has leveraged accumulated military, technical, and tactical experience—despite years of blockade—to undermine America’s technological dominance. This evolution continues to widen the gap in Washington’s calculations, particularly as Yemen moves from defense toward more advanced deterrence strategies.