News - Yemen: Yemen has emerged as a key player in countering American and Israeli influence in the Red Sea, transforming this once-overlooked maritime front into a hotspot for international conflict, a Spanish newspaper reported.

The El Mundo outlines Yemen's evolution into an active naval power, highlighting its growing capabilities and readiness to confront any potential US or Israeli intervention in the region.

According to the report, Yemen recently demonstrated its naval prowess by targeting the US aircraft carrier Eisenhower. Although the missile did not directly hit the carrier, it came within just 200 meters, marking an unprecedented event since World War II.

This incident serves as a stark warning to American forces, showing that Yemen has the capacity to challenge US fleets stationed in the Red Sea—a vital artery for global trade.

The Spanish newspaper further noted that Yemeni forces have effectively imposed a blockade on Israeli maritime traffic in the Red Sea, leading to a reported 90 percent reduction in Israeli shipping activity between December and March. As a result, the Israeli port of Eilat has faced severe financial strain and even declared bankruptcy due to the sharp decline in commercial activity.

The report underscores Yemen's use of unconventional tactics, including suicide boats, submarines, drones, and anti-ship ballistic missiles, which have raised alarm in both the US and Israel.

As Yemen asserts itself in the Red Sea conflict, the nature of traditional military confrontations is shifting dramatically. Although Yemen does not have a conventional military in the classic sense, it possesses the determination and technology to challenge major powers.

The report concludes that the maritime front opened by Yemen has become a strategic leverage point, allowing it to support Gaza effectively by dispersing American, Israeli, and British coalition forces across multiple fronts.

In November 2023, Yemeni Armed Forces began targeting Israeli ships, or vessels linked to Israel, in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, and as far as the Mediterranean, using missiles and drones. This action is in solidarity with Gaza and in response to the ongoing siege and genocide since October 7, 2023, as well as the aggression led by the United States and the United Kingdom against Yemen.