The U.S. Department of Defense recognizes that Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels will persist as a maritime threat, even after a temporary lull following a ceasefire. Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich, director of operations on the Joint Staff, stated before a congressional hearing that while the Houthis halted attacks on U.S. naval and commercial vessels under a recent agreement, they remain poised to resume operations if American military support for Israel continues. “The Houthis are likely to be a persistent problem… that we’ll be dealing with in the future a few times again,” he warned.
Since late 2023, the Houthis have carried out dozens of attacks—deploying ballistic missiles, drones, and explosive unmanned surface vessels—targeting commercial shipping and U.S. warships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. These actions have triggered multinational naval responses, including Operation Prosperity Guardian and the EU’s Operation Aspides, aimed at restoring safe passage for global trade.
Maritime analysts say that while naval defenses have thwarted many strikes, they haven’t eliminated the threat, which continues to prompt costly shipping detours and heightened insurance premiums.
