“Lincoln” Fails to Restore U.S. Deterrence or Western Naval Confidence
In an operation that disrupted adversarial maritime strategies, Yemeni missiles launched from both land and sea targeted the vessel “Anadolu S” in the Red Sea. The ship had ignored Yemeni naval warnings and violated restrictions against entering ports in occupied Palestine. With this strike— along with previous and upcoming operations—Yemen reaffirmed its resolve to enforce a naval blockade on the Israeli entity until the aggression in Gaza and Lebanon ceases, and humanitarian aid reaches the besieged Gaza Strip.
For over a year, Yemeni naval operations in support of Gaza have intensified, in response to field developments and in retaliation for the war crimes in Gaza. These operations now target companies collaborating with the occupying entity, and extend across a vast geographic area, from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, including the Arabian and Red Seas.
Despite rare instances of ships defying Yemen’s maritime ban, most shipping companies refrain from challenging the restrictions, even with U.S. assurances of protection. U.S. efforts to shield commercial vessels through naval coalitions, destroyers, and aircraft carriers have faltered, exposing an undeniable failure to deter Yemeni operations.
Italian Destroyer Withdraws from the Red Sea
The U.S. Navy’s inability to ensure the safety of its own vessels has prompted a significant exodus of Western frigates from the Red Sea. Among the latest departures is the Italian destroyer “Andrea Doria”, which recently joined the growing list of Western warships abandoning the region.
The Andrea Doria, a missile defense destroyer, withdrew in less than five months after joining the Western fleet and leading the European mission “Auspices”. This withdrawal weakens the European coalition’s ability to protect Israeli maritime routes and echoes earlier exits by German, Danish, French, and Belgian frigates. The fractures in the European alliance mirror a broader decline in Western naval strength in the region.
U.S. Aircraft Carrier Exits Amid Targeting
Coinciding with the Italian withdrawal, the Pentagon announced the departure of the USS Abraham Lincoln from the Middle East. The aircraft carrier had recently endured an eight-hour preemptive Yemeni attack in the Arabian Sea, further highlighting vulnerabilities in U.S. naval operations.
This marks the second time this year that the U.S. has removed a carrier from the Red Sea, signaling a significant retreat of Western naval power. Such withdrawals encourage other nations to leave the increasingly dangerous maritime theater. European publications have noted that Germany’s recent decision to avoid deploying warships in the Red Sea reflects the growing challenges faced by Western navies.
Escalating Costs of Countering Yemeni Strikes
A report by Bloomberg sheds light on the U.S.’s mounting difficulties in countering Yemeni missile attacks. The report reveals that the U.S. Navy has spent nearly $2 billion on munitions, including over 100 interceptor missiles, to address the threat. However, production constraints and supply chain challenges mean it could take up to three years to replenish these stocks, further complicating efforts to restore deterrence.
Yemen’s precision strikes continue to expose costly weaknesses in U.S. military capabilities, draining resources in a prolonged conflict.
Waning Credibility of the “Waterway Closure” Narrative
The U.S. narrative that Yemeni operations threaten global shipping lanes has lost credibility. Instead, the intensifying blockade on Gaza has amplified international calls to end the crisis and address the humanitarian catastrophe. Critics warn that escalating military mobilization risks igniting a devastating regional conflict, with Europe potentially facing severe repercussions if the conflict extends to strategic chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz.
Western fleets have failed to mitigate the economic losses and political pressures caused by rerouting vessels around the Cape of Good Hope instead of using Bab el-Mandeb. The costs of maintaining warships, procuring munitions to counter Yemeni operations, and addressing other logistical challenges have compounded their difficulties.