New Red Sea Front? Houthi Actions Could Force US To Redeploy Naval Assets: Report

The Iran-backed Houthis have threatened to impose a naval blockade on ports in the Red Sea, potentially disrupting around 7% of global oil supplies and opening a new front.

The prospect of a renewed Houthi campaign against Red Sea shipping has emerged as the latest challenge for the United States, raising concerns that Washington may soon have to divide its military resources between two major maritime fronts across the Middle East. The warning comes after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement announced it would prevent ships from loading or unloading at Saudi Arabian ports, threatening one of the world’s most important oil export routes just as US forces continue large-scale operations against Iran in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

The Houthis said they would seek to impose a naval blockade on Saudi ports along the Red Sea, a move that could disrupt a significant share of global energy supplies. Saudi Arabia exports a substantial portion of its crude through Red Sea terminals linked to pipelines running from the kingdom’s eastern oil fields, allowing shipments to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Reuters, a successful Houthi blockade could potentially affect around 7% of global oil supplies, adding another layer of uncertainty to energy markets already unsettled by the Iran conflict.

Asked about the Houthi threat, US President Donald Trump suggested Washington would intervene if commercial shipping came under attack. “If something like that happens, we’ll take care of it. We’ve done that with the Houthis before,” Trump told reporters.

Saudi Arabia has not publicly requested US military assistance, but any sustained disruption of Red Sea shipping could place additional pressure on Washington to act.

The United States is currently conducting sustained military operations against Iran while enforcing a naval blockade around Iranian ports. CENTCOM has carried out nightly strikes targeting Iranian command centres, missile infrastructure, coastal defence systems and maritime capabilities, while US naval forces continue enforcing restrictions on shipping linked to Iranian ports.

At such a time, opening a second active theatre against the Houthis would complicate operational planning. Jason Campbell, a former senior Pentagon official, told Reuters that the United States would effectively be dividing even its substantial regional military resources between two simultaneous conflicts.

Experts believe confronting renewed Houthi attacks would likely require repositioning American naval assets currently operating in the Arabian Gulf. Such a redeployment could include:

These forces would be needed to intercept Houthi missiles and drones, protect commercial shipping and potentially conduct strikes against launch sites inside Yemen.

The Houthis have repeatedly demonstrated resilience despite years of sustained military pressure. Between 2015 and 2022, the group survived extensive air campaigns conducted by the Saudi-led coalition. Later, both the Biden and Trump administrations launched separate military operations targeting Houthi missile sites, drone facilities and command infrastructure following repeated attacks on international shipping.

Houthi supporters attend a rally against the US airstrikes on Yemen and the Israeli offensive against the Palestinians in Gaza Strip, in Sanaa, Yemen.

Despite these operations, defence experts believe the Houthis retain significant capability to threaten vessels transiting the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Michael Mulroy said the Houthis have repeatedly shown both the capability and willingness to obstruct maritime traffic.

Despite these operations, defence experts believe the Houthis retain significant capability to threaten vessels transiting the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Michael Mulroy said the Houthis have repeatedly shown both the capability and willingness to obstruct maritime traffic.

According to Reuters, more than 20 US Navy warships, hundreds of military aircraft and over 50,000 American personnel are already deployed across the Middle East in support of operations against Iran.

Officials quoted by Reuters acknowledged that several warships have remained deployed for longer than originally planned due to the sustained operational tempo. Extended deployments increase maintenance demands while placing additional strain on personnel and logistics.

A renewed campaign against the Houthis would also increase demand for air defence interceptors and precision-guided munitions. US naval forces protecting commercial shipping would likely need to intercept threats such as cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, one-way attack drones and anti-ship missiles.

Defence analysts have previously warned that sustained operations across multiple theatres risk placing additional pressure on interceptor inventories.