Yemen Monitor / Washington / Exclusive:
Acting Chief of Naval Operations Admiral James Kilby stated on Tuesday that U.S. naval forces need more munitions to confront the Houthis in Yemen.
The US military commander expressed concern over the Navy’s reliance on high-cost, high-powered interceptor missiles to counter what he described as the Houthi threat in the Red Sea. He pledged to push for more affordable and efficient alternatives.
Speaking to reporters at the Sea-Air-Space Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, Kilby said he was “not worried” about the Navy’s ability to protect its personnel—such as the 350 sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Carney—or its capacity to safeguard commercial shipping.
When asked whether the Navy had sufficient munitions to face the Houthi threat, Kilby responded, “I think we need more munitions,” according to Fox News.
“We certainly need more munitions if we’re going into a protracted conflict,” he added.
In mid-March 2025, under President Donald Trump’s leadership, the US launched a large-scale military operation against the Houthis in Yemen. The operation included intensive airstrikes targeting Houthi-controlled areas, with the Pentagon stating the focus was on air defense systems, missiles, and drones. The operation also aimed at targeting senior Houthi leaders and reducing their military capabilities, with the stated goal of restoring security in the Red Sea—where commercial shipping has been severely disrupted by Houthi attacks.
The Houthis claim they are attacking in solidarity with Palestinians and are enforcing a ban on Israeli vessels. In response to U.S. airstrikes, the Houthis have launched retaliatory attacks on the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and its accompanying naval vessels stationed in the northern Red Sea.
