DID Press: American military analyst Will Schryver warned that any direct military confrontation between the US and Iran would be highly costly and strategically uncertain for Washington, citing recent operational setbacks in the Red Sea.
Writing on X, Schryver said that between 2024 and 2025, the US deployed multiple aircraft carrier strike groups and a substantial portion of its air power to the Red Sea but failed to achieve its stated objectives.
According to the analyst, Washington launched operations aimed at disarming Yemeni forces and securing key shipping lanes. However, U.S. naval deployments were forced to pull back after encountering intense resistance and suffering operational losses. He claimed that several U.S. fighter jets and a significant number of advanced American drones were shot down during the missions.
Schryver also cited reported psychological strain among some naval crews, describing the volume of fire and combat capabilities of Yemeni forces as “unprecedented” and indicative of a shifting balance in maritime warfare.
He argued that if Yemen, with comparatively limited capabilities, was able to pose such a challenge to U.S. forces, a military confrontation with Iran—given its air defense capacity, strategic depth and geographic position—would be far more complex and expensive.
The analyst further acknowledged logistical constraints, saying the US could sustain a high-intensity air campaign only for a limited period, and that any significant losses of naval vessels or crewed aircraft could trigger serious domestic political repercussions in Washington.