The British oil tanker Marlin Luanda, sailing in the Gulf of Aden, came under missile attack from the Yemeni army.
This strike occurred far from areas controlled by Yemen's National Salvation Government.
Several key points arise from this incident:
The United States and United Kingdom had touted their "Wellbeing Guardian" naval coalition but underestimated the Yemeni navy's ability to launch daily ship attacks.
The operational significance of this attack goes beyond the use of a ballistic missile; it highlights the Yemeni forces' capability to accurately target ships from a considerable distance. Moreover, it underscores the failure of the US and UK to intercept the Houthi projectile.
In practice, despite the preparedness of the United States and the United Kingdom to respond, their heavy, well-equipped vessels proved ineffective in defending against the weaponry wielded by the Houthis.
Recent events have shed light on the inability of the United States and its allies to counter the Houthis and maintain control over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. This raises doubts about their ability to confront the IRGC and the Iranian army in the event of a conflict in the Strait of Hormuz.
Strategically, recent battles in the Middle East underscore the need to fundamentally reassess the value of aerial bombardment in military doctrines when dealing with asymmetric combat methods. The efficacy of such tactics has markedly diminished, prompting a search for smarter alternatives.
Aerial bombardment has not proven decisive in conflicts like the 33-day war, battles in Gaza, or recent clashes in Yemen and its vicinity. Therefore, air superiority cannot be relied upon to secure victories for Western and Israeli forces.
From a geopolitical perspective, the retention of Yemen's National Salvation Government in Sana'a could potentially place strategic waterways like the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Red and Arabian Seas under Yemeni control, leading to a significant shift in global power dynamics.
Furthermore, the dominance of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz cannot be viewed in isolation from developments in the Red Sea. These regions may act in tandem when necessary.
The confidence of Islamic resistance movements worldwide is likely to grow following these developments. They may carry out anti-American and British activities with increased assurance, as the prestige of America and its allies has dwindled in their eyes.
News ID : 2830