US Marine Corps must learn unexpected operational lessons from Yemeni forces

SANAA, Nov. 16 (YPA) -The US Marine Corps Association (MCA) has published an operational analysis acknowledging that Yemeni attacks in the Red Sea have delivered unexpected operational lessons, challenging the US Navy without naval or air superiority and imposing billions of dollars in costs.

According to the analysis, Yemenis continuously drew US naval and air forces into secondary theaters without possessing major strategic tools. They achieve strategic results through asymmetry, using extremely low-cost tools

“It should not merely admire Yemeni tactics but extract operational lessons to adapt to future battles.”

It offered a clear example of this imbalance, noting that Intercepting a Yemeni drone costing around $10,000 consumes a US missile valued at $4 million.

The analysis indicated that Yemenis deployed swarms of drones to saturate defenses before executing primary strikes. The Yemeni attacks have pushed US aircraft carriers and NATO allies to reposition forces in the Red Sea.

The MCA argued that the situation presents a “unique opportunity for doctrinal reflection” within the Marine Corps, emphasizing that operational innovation “does not require massive resources but a flexible, unconventional mindset.”

US success against Yemenis currently relies on technological and economic superiority, not on innovation superiority, according to the analysis.

The MCA wrote that it “We never thought we would borrow tactics from Yemeni ‘groups,’ but today we are doing so,” stressing that the goal is not to admire these forces but to extract lessons relevant to future warfare.

It added, “Lessons from Yemen demonstrate that quantity and diversity can sometimes outperform quality alone.”

The report concluded with a pointed question: “The lessons are available now — but do we have the humility to learn?” It encouraged the Marine Littoral Regiment to integrate these principles into its continued development.

@E.Y.M