The attacks have been able to disrupt shipping and keep the U.S. and its allies tied down, frustrating the Navy’s decades-old mission of keeping open the region’s critical sea lanes.
American military says it has spent about $1 billion fighting Ansar Allah to support Israel’s Gaza War. It has conducted more than 450 strikes and intercepting 200 drones and missiles.
U.S. officials worry that the conflict is simply not sustainable.
“Their supply of weapons from Iran is cheap and highly sustainable, but ours is expensive and our logistics tails are long. We are playing whack-a-mole, and they are playing a long game.”
The attacks don’t even have to sink a ship to take effect. The insurance cost alone is enough to cause detours around Africa.