The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group (IKECSG), one of the most powerful American naval forces, just wrapped up an intense nine-month deployment to the Middle East. During this mission, it fended off nearly 800 attacks from the Houthi rebels in Yemen, a militant group backed by Iran. However, according to a new report, Russia might have had a hand in this by providing the Houthis with advanced targeting data, all to keep the U.S. occupied in the Middle East and away from the battlefield in Ukraine.
The Houthis’ Attacks: What’s Really Happening?
The Houthis, who are loyal to Iran, started launching attacks on international shipping vessels last October to show support for Gaza. Over time, they reportedly began using Russian satellite data to expand and intensify these strikes, according to The Wall Street Journal, which cited people familiar with the matter and two European defense officials. They believe that Russian data was funneled to the Houthis through Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who have fighters stationed in Yemen to support the Houthis.
This support from Russia wasn’t just about hitting a few vessels—it was a part of a larger strategy. The theory is that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to stir up as much chaos as possible outside Ukraine. By keeping the U.S. and its allies busy with the Houthis in the Middle East, Russia might hope to reduce the resources and attention the U.S. can spare for Ukraine. “For Russia, any flare-up anywhere is good news, because it takes the world’s attention further away from Ukraine,” said Alexander Gabuev, a director at Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.
The Cost of Defense: U.S. Resources Tied Up
The U.S. response to these attacks was swift and powerful. The Eisenhower carrier group, along with other allied forces, fired hundreds of missiles at Houthi drones, boats, and even missiles aimed at commercial ships. The mission to defend these ships was costly, with Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro reporting in April that the U.S. Navy alone had spent over $1 billion on munitions to fend off Houthi attacks. By February, the Navy had fired more than 100 Standard Missiles, one of the most powerful weapons in its arsenal.
The Houthis, however, have kept attacking. They’ve hit more than 100 ships, managed to sink two vessels, damaged others, and even hijacked one. These relentless attacks are forcing oil tankers and cargo ships to reroute around Africa instead of taking the faster and cheaper route through the Red Sea and Suez Canal. As a result, the number of oil tankers passing through the critical Bab al-Mandab Strait (connecting the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean) dropped by 77% between October 2023 and August 2024.
Russia’s Expanding Influence in the Middle East
The report has sparked concern that Russia’s support to the Houthis could extend beyond sharing satellite data. Some officials are worried that Russia could even supply the Houthis with advanced missiles or other powerful weapons. If this were to happen, it would create a massive headache for the U.S. and its allies, making it even harder to keep the Red Sea safe.
Russia’s ambitions seem to stretch beyond Yemen, too. Israel’s Prime Minister recently revealed that “state-of-the-art” Russian weapons were discovered in Hezbollah bases in southern Lebanon, possibly smuggled in by Iran or acquired by other means. Hezbollah, like the Houthis, is an ally of Iran and has clashed with Israel, especially in recent years.
This tangled web of alliances—Russia aiding Iran, Iran aiding the Houthis, and Hezbollah—shows how intertwined the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East are becoming. Putin’s willingness to support these militant groups demonstrates his interest in undermining the U.S.-led “rules-based order” that keeps the peace in many regions.
A Costly Distraction for the U.S.
In response to these attacks, the U.S. and Europe have created international task forces to protect the Red Sea. These include the U.S.-led Operation Prosperity Guardian and the European-led Operation Aspides. Despite these efforts, attacks continue, and U.S. and allied forces have to remain vigilant.
The conflict has already drained billions of dollars in resources, tying up U.S. naval forces and high-tech weaponry that might otherwise be focused on other regions like Ukraine. Russia, however, seems to see this as a success. The Houthis, emboldened by Russian support, have shown no sign of stopping their attacks on shipping, drawing more attention to the Middle East just as the U.S. would prefer to focus on Eastern Europe.
It’s unclear how the U.S. plans to respond if Russia’s role in aiding the Houthis continues to escalate, but one thing is clear: as long as these conflicts are interconnected, the U.S. will face challenges on multiple fronts. The Red Sea and Eastern Europe are becoming two battlegrounds in a much larger geopolitical struggle, one that Putin is intent on exploiting.
