Despite escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly sparked by the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, the U.S. Navy has reportedly expended nearly $1 billion on its operations in the region. This includes efforts to counter drone and missile assaults from Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.
Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro addressed the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, commending the performance of U.S. sailors in the face of these challenges. He emphasized the urgent need for additional funding from Congress to replenish depleted munitions.
Navy has spent nearly $1B in Middle East (Credits: NewsNation)
Del Toro highlighted the serious costs associated with the Navy’s defense efforts, noting the utilization of expensive ballistic missile defense munitions such as the Raytheon-manufactured Standard Missile 2s and Standard Missile 6s, each priced at over $2 million.
This stark contrast in cost has drawn criticism, particularly from the Houthis, who have underscored the disparity between the expense of U.S. defenses and the relatively low cost of their drone attacks.
US Navy (Credits: The Heritage Foundation)
Since November, the Houthis have launched numerous drone attacks targeting both U.S. military vessels and commercial ships in the region. Initially framed as expressions of solidarity with Palestinians despite the Hamas-Israel conflict, these attacks have expanded to include vessels with no apparent connection to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
While the Senate passed a $95 billion foreign aid bill in February, aimed at providing support to countries like Ukraine, Israel, and other allies, progress on the legislation has been hindered in the House.
The impasse primarily stems from disagreements over funding for U.S. border security measures, delaying critical aid allocations to regions facing heightened geopolitical tensions.
