The Yemeni Navy is effectively fractured into two separate entities as a result of the ongoing civil war. The internationally recognized government, supported by a Saudi-led coalition, nominally controls a remnant of the pre-war fleet. In contrast, the Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) has developed a potent asymmetric naval capability, significantly influencing maritime security in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The official Yemeni Navy, historically based in Aden and Hodeidah, was a small force even before the conflict, and its current operational status is severely degraded. Its assets were a mix of Soviet/Russian and Chinese-made vessels, including small corvettes and missile boats. Many of these were destroyed or fell into disrepair early in the civil war. The internationally recognized government's naval forces are now largely integrated into the Saudi-led coalition's maritime operations, focusing on coastal patrols and attempting to support land-based forces. Their ability to act independently is limited, and there are no significant shipbuilding programs underway, with any new assets likely being donations from coalition partners.
The Houthi movement has demonstrated a sophisticated grasp of asymmetric naval warfare. Lacking a traditional fleet, they employ a range of advanced and often Iranian-supplied weaponry to exert influence far beyond what their conventional naval power would suggest. Their capabilities include anti-ship cruise and ballistic missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), and uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), often referred to as drone boats. They have used these to target commercial shipping and coalition warships, disrupting global trade through the crucial Bab al-Mandeb Strait. This strategy aims to apply international pressure and bolster their position within Yemen.
Houthi maritime strategy is not one of sea control but of sea denial. By threatening one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, they have attracted a significant international naval response, including the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian and the EU's Operation Aspides. Houthi operational reach for their drone and missile attacks has at times extended throughout the Red Sea and into the Gulf of Aden. Their tactics rely on mobile, hard-to-detect launchers and the use of intelligence, allegedly sometimes provided by Iran, to target vessels. This has allowed them to sustain a high operational tempo despite extensive counter-strikes by US and allied forces.
