Yemen: Despite the intensive American attempts to discredit Yemen's support for Gaza and downplay its impact and capabilities, under the so-called "strategy to counter the Houthis' narrative," Washington seems utterly incapable of escaping the reality of its resounding defeat by Yemen in the Red Sea.  

The latest acknowledgment came from Bill LaPlante, the U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (the Pentagon's top arms buyer), in unprecedented remarks reported by Axios. He described the “Houthis” as "becoming increasingly formidable," stating, "They are wielding increasingly sophisticated weapons, including missiles capable of performing astonishing feats."  

LaPlante added, "As an engineer and physicist who has worked with missiles throughout my career, I am astounded by what the “Houthis” have achieved over the past six months." He warned, "If a ballistic missile hits a warship, it’s a very bad day; therefore, we need to stay away from the Red Sea."  

He further noted that Yemen is "producing ballistic missiles with technology that only advanced nations possess," possibly referring to hypersonic missiles.  

This testimony stands out from previous acknowledgments by U.S. Navy leaders and officials, as it highlights not only Yemen's operational and tactical superiority in confronting America’s advanced fleets but also the profound psychological impact within the Pentagon itself. This suggests that U.S. policymakers now understand that the issue transcends operational setbacks and represents a historic defeat, fundamentally altering the balance of power and heralding the rise of a new, uncontrollable force.  

Between President Biden's admission less than a year ago that air and naval strikes failed to deter Yemen’s armed forces and LaPlante’s statement that Yemen has become a formidable power, a clear evaluation emerges: the U.S. campaign against Yemen has turned into a significant strategic debacle, as Yemen's leadership had forewarned.  

In a related analysis, the U.S. Naval Institute published a report this month stating that despite the disparity in military capabilities, "it is clear that naval forces in the region have failed to stop Yemeni attacks, even with the U.S. employing air and missile strikes on multiple occasions."  

The report added that the disruption of Red Sea operations comes at a high cost: alternative trade routes result in transit delays, increased insurance premiums for ships passing through contested waters, and the financial risk of losing a commercial vessel. It further noted the high maintenance and operational costs of warships in the area and the expenditure on defensive weaponry.  

The National Interest also emphasized this narrative, highlighting that the recent attack on two U.S. destroyers near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait exposed significant gaps in the U.S. Navy’s ability to counter advanced threats. According to the magazine, "The U.S. Navy insists it has the capabilities to stop Houthi attacks, but the reality is that its surface fleet is facing unprecedented challenges that reflect vulnerabilities in a potential conflict with China."  

The article added, "The Houthis have demonstrated how to complicate the U.S. Navy's show of force, and now America’s more advanced adversaries, particularly China, are preparing to apply similar strategies on a broader scale if a U.S.-China war breaks out."  

In summary, these reports and testimonies highlight the undeniable fact of the U.S.'s defeat against Yemen, marking a historical turning point that has reshaped global power dynamics. Yemen has effectively challenged the U.S.'s dominance, breaking its monopoly on naval power and setting new deterrence strategies that could influence future conflicts worldwide.