In the TV series "Love Apartment", Zhang Wei is known as "the most kind of man in the love apartment" because of his own humor cells. And in the Middle East, near the end of 2023, if you want to choose the most powerful forces, Yemen's Houthis are undoubtedly at the top. Since the outbreak of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the Houthis have openly supported Hamas, not only carrying out missile attacks on Israeli and US warships, but also carrying out "ship raids" in the Red Sea, blocking the Suez Canal route by themselves, causing heavy damage to Israel's foreign trade and economy, and causing tremors in Western countries.
When the U.S. Department of Defense considered sending troops to Yemen, the Houthis responded strongly, saying that if the U.S. went to war in an all-out manner, it would be worse than what happened in Afghanistan. At the same time, a Chinese cargo ship successfully passed through the Red Sea, and the Houthis escorted the whole process, which attracted attention. The jury is still out on whether the U.S. will conduct a ground military operation against the Houthis, but at sea, U.S. escort operations are in full swing. On December 18, a multinational escort force, codenamed Operation Prosperity Guardian, was formed to target the Houthis, but the main force remained the US military. This move caused dissatisfaction among the countries of the Middle East, and only Bahrain participated, showing the unpopularity of the American plan. What worries the US military even more is the cost of escort. The Houthi's homemade suicide drones are worth only about $2,000, while American-made anti-aircraft missiles** are as high as $2 million.
The task of escorting ships at sea is arduous, and if the United States launches a ground attack, it will further increase the difficulty. Although the Houthis are nicknamed the "slipper army" by the outside world, in the comparison of strength, they are undoubtedly the "little bully" in the Middle East. With a huge military force and a certain military industrial base, the Houthis can not only crush the Yemeni ** army, but also defeat the opponent in the Saudi multinational coalition. At present, the Houthis control a large part of the territory in northern Yemen, owning several cities, equipped with main battle tanks, armored vehicles, self-propelled artillery, etc.**. The demonstration of its military power has become a grand military parade in the Middle East. The mobilization of the Houthis has begun in Yemeni governorates in preparation for the deployment of troops into Gaza. The Houthis' self-confidence is on full display, and if the United States goes to full-scale war, it will be even more severe than it was in Afghanistan.
The U.S. maritime escort operation has begun, and although the multinational force has been built in name, the main force is still the U.S. military. Among the Middle Eastern countries in particular, only Bahrain participated, underscoring the unpopularity of the American plan. In escort operations, the US military will face huge costs and dilemmas. The Houthis' "ship raids" have attracted great attention around the world, and the Suez Canal route is the main artery of the global economy, and any turmoil could trigger the economy**. In this situation, the risk of a U.S. ground offensive is even more worrisome. Although the outside world has ridiculed the Houthis as a "slipper army", in the face of this battle-hardened force, the United States will have to face many difficulties if it wants to carry out a ground war in Yemen. And Iran, a supporter of the Houthis, will not sit idly by and may provide support at a critical moment. Imagine if Iran handed over hypersonic missiles to the Houthis, and the US military would face more pressure during the landing operation. Even if the U.S. military's powerful naval and air forces can control air and sea supremacy, the Houthis can still use mountain and guerrilla tactics to pose a serious threat to the U.S. military. Recall the war in Afghanistan, where the US military paid a heavy price. Unlike that war, the Houthis were experienced and tactically flexible, putting the U.S. military in a tough ground battle.
The Houthis have launched a full-scale mobilization following warnings from the United States, and the purpose of the mobilization is obvious: to prepare for the launch of troops in Gaza. Once a living force intervenes in Gaza, it will not only put more pressure on Israel, but also put the United States and other Western countries in a dilemma. The whole situation is developing in turmoil, and this seemingly distant Middle East crisis has also made the global focus on the Houthi "ship raid" a node of great significance.