DID Press: In a rare and candid assessment, the US Marine Corps Association (MCA) has acknowledged that Yemen’s armed forces—despite lacking a conventional navy or air force—have fundamentally challenged US maritime power and inflicted billions of dollars in costs. Washington now describes the Yemen experience as “a critical lesson for future warfare.”
In its newly released report, the MCA says that Yemeni forces, relying on asymmetric tactics and limited yet targeted capabilities, have succeeded in exerting significant pressure on U.S. naval operations in regional waters. The report says Yemen’s fighters have delivered “unexpected operational lessons,” demonstrating how a small actor with inexpensive tools can undermine the strategic effectiveness of a global military power.
According to the assessment, Yemen’s ability to disrupt maritime routes and impose major financial and logistical burdens has forced the United States to rethink the principles guiding its naval readiness and force structure.
The MCA report adds that the U.S. Marine Corps’ coastal forces should “draw inspiration from the Yemeni model,” arguing that recent events prove that influence in modern conflict does not depend solely on the size or classical configuration of military forces.
The study concludes by warning that the Yemen case serves as an alert for the United States and its allies: low-cost technologies, guerrilla-style tactics, and asymmetric operations can produce strategic effects even against major world powers.