Why do the Houthis dare to single out the US military?
They have the confidence and conditions to take on the US military alone.
The contest between the Houthis and the US military is actually a game of sea supremacy. And the game of sea supremacy is ultimately to fight whose ** or carrier-based aircraft are more powerful.
If this logic is followed, the Houthis are not qualified to play maritime games with the US military at all, because the slipper army does not even have a serious **.
But the problem is that the narrowest point of the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, is only thirty kilometers. At this distance, the Houthis can achieve fire coverage of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on land.
In addition, the Houthis have two killer weapons: anti-ship missiles and drones.
Speaking of which, the Houthi anti-ship missiles still have a lot to do with China.
In 1984, China unveiled its self-developed anti-ship missile, the YJ-8.
Later, this series of missiles was extended to various improved models, among which the C802 became the star product for export to the international market.
Iran has a soft spot for China's export-oriented missiles, and has even copied them. The imitation missile is the Nur anti-ship missile, which has become the treasure of the town to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.
If Iran has it, there will naturally be those Iranian armed groups.
The progress and maturity of anti-ship missile and unmanned aerial vehicle technology have made it possible for many countries with weak navies to expand their empire with small sizes.
In 2006, Allah forces used Noor anti-ship missiles to hit Israeli frigatesIn 2016, the Houthis also destroyed a UAE transport ship with such missiles.
Coupled with cheaper suicide anti-ship drones, attacking enemy targets at sea is much more handy.
In the face of the naval attack of these barefoot troops, the US military really has no choice?
Of course. For the Houthi anti-ship missiles and drones, which are not advanced, the US military can easily intercept them by simply turning on the radar and launching anti-aircraft missiles.
However, it is not cost-effective!
At present, the air defense of cruisers and destroyers of the US Navy mainly uses the "Standard-2" Block IV missile to intercept operations, and the single sale of such missiles is as high as 2 million dollars. The most powerful Standard-6 ship-to-air missile cost more than $4 million each.
The latest ship-to-air missiles are more expensive.
For example, the standard 3 Block IIA missile, which can intercept medium-range ballistic missiles, is purchased by the US Navy** close to $20 million per missile.
The Houthi highest-end Nuer anti-ship missiles are only a few hundred thousand dollars each, suicide drones are only two thousand dollars each, and the slightly more advanced ones are only two or three hundred thousand dollars.
The contrast of the costs of the huge difference made the US Navy want to cry without tears.
Of course, the U.S. military can take the initiative to strike at the Houthis' home or overseas lines of communication to achieve reciprocal deterrence.
But the problem is that the Houthis are so economically backward that there is nothing for the US Navy to strike, not even a military camp or other target.
Therefore, the U.S. military, which is walking sideways all over the world, has no way to deal with the Houthis, the slipper army!