The Iranian backed Houthis are attacking American ships with older drones and missiles. This ordance is not equipped with up to date stealth and guidance technology. Thus far American warships have had no trouble destroying these weapons before they reach American targets. However this should not give the Pentagon a false sense of security. These weapons are becoming modernized, far more stealthy and accurate. Also they are becoming incredibly simple to use even by uneducated combatants. If Iran obtains and has the stupidity to supply the Houthis with these newer systems, it would be risky to have 43 ships in that area. In fact its time to acknowldge that in this new technological time, the era of naval surface combatants is over.
Yemen, the anus of the mid east.
I also find another part of the article troubling, and that's the cyberattack on Iran's gas production. I'm not against Israel doing it -- I'm just saying it's a reminder that it can be done to us. We should have our energy infrastructures hardened against cyberattacks. For one thing, they should be in closed internets or WANs (as opposed to on the world wide internet).
For example, decades ago when I made software to generate and transmit bank ACH files, some of the banks we dealt with expected us to lease from AT&T a dedicated data line between us and the bank. An energy company can do the same with dedicated data lines between its headquarters and regional power plants or oil refineries or whatever.
Are those just pot shots at us or does Iran have electronic intelligence assets to watch the Navy’s air defense radars and reaction speed? Back in the Cold War we would fly planes right up the the Soviet border hoping to get some jumpy private in their air defense to use a war reserve mode or frequency on a radar to add to our jamming knowledge.
Good ol' Joe took the Houthis off the terrorist list back in February 2021.