By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization
The US Navy is moving amphibious assault maritime war power closer to the Israeli coast in what appears to be revved up efforts to strengthen deterrence efforts in the region and further prevent a wider war.
This is significant for many reasons and makes sense in light of the 10-nation Operation Prosperity Guardian now underway in the Red Sea. Certainly the presence of amphibious attack power reinforces deterrence efforts in the Red Sea as amphibs could transit back through the Suez canal into the Red Sea if necessary.
A published US-Navy photo shows the Wasp-class USS Bataan amphibious assault ship and a Harpers Ferry-class Dock Landing Ship USS Carter Hall moved into the Eastern Mediterranean Dec. 28, from the Red Sea. The warships were also supported by the USS Mesa Verde Amphibious Transport Dock as well.
“With the embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), these ships will re-aggregate as the Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) in the eastern Mediterranean,” a Navy description explains.
This kind of maneuvering adds a new dimension to the deterrence equation as it introduces the possibility of launching an amphibious assault force anywhere along the coast or in the region …. where helicopters, Ospreys 5-th Generation vertical take-off and landing F-35Bs and amphibious attack craft can either attack inland or move ship-to-shore as needed. This places strike forces within range of many counter-terrorist targets within the region, should the US choose to respond more forcefully to continued Houthi or Iranian-proxy-group attacks in the region. As an amphibious assault ship, the USS Bataan can easily project inland power into Iraq and other areas throughout the Middle East where US and allied forces could be at risk of ongoing terrorist attacks. Amphibious assault forces and 5th-gen air power can offer Commanders attack options against targets throughout the region without having to risk “basing” high-value assets and Marines on the ground where they might be vulnerable to enemy missile attacks.
Perhaps of greatest significance, operating amphibious forces within range of the Red Sea merely multiplies potential attack options for US and allied forces supporting Operation Prosperity Guardian. For instance, Yemen is merely 2,249km from Jerusalem, so amphibious assets would be well within striking distance from many places throughout the Red Sea. The Osprey helicopter, for example, operates with a combat radius of 450km, the F-35B has a 1,000 mile range and amphibious combat vehicles can travel at least 10-12 miles from ship to shore in support of maritime combat operations.
The Pentagon is unlikely to launch an amphibious assault on portions of Gaza from the Eastern Mediterranean or against Yemen from the Red Sea, however the presence of such force certainly multiplies options for US and allied commanders should Houthi attacks continue and intensify. Targeted air attack from amphibs and a carrier strike group, supported if necessary by long-range, precision-guided Tomahawk cruise missiles could certainly exact a decisive impact in any attack on Houthi targets, and however unlikely it may be, the presence of US Marines and amphibious attack forces provide the option for US commanders to land and attack on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen should that be required for any reason. There might be some combat options wherein it makes tactical sense to send in amphibious assault forces to secure Houthi-missile launch sites or conduct targeted attacks on specific Houthi fighters responsible for attacks. Should such targeted operations be necessary, it might offer commanders a strike option that would not generate civilian casualties, something the Houthis would likely want to see for its information war and propaganda purposes.
Despite all of these measures, and the prospect of a multi-faceted, multi-domain US and allied attacks, Houthi drone and missile strikes against US and commercial ships in the Red Sea continue.
