Last week's US-led airstrikes on Houthi rebel targets in Yemen resulted in the destruction of less than a third of their overall offensive capabilities, according to a US official who spoke with CNN. Despite the barrage of strikes, the Houthi rebels still possess around three-quarters of their ability to target commercial vessels in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The airstrikes, which included 150 precision-guided munitions fired at nearly 30 sites, may have damaged and destroyed 93% of the selected targets, but the majority of the Houthi rebels' ability to strike international shipping remains intact, the official revealed.

This fact became evident on Monday when a Houthi missile successfully hit a US-owned cargo ship in the Red Sea, marking the first time the militants have struck a vessel owned or operated by the United States.

Although the airstrikes were considered successful in terms of their original intent, some US officials privately acknowledge that they did little to significantly hinder the Houthis' ability to continue attacking international shipping.

Officials stated that the operation aimed to disrupt and degrade the Houthi rebels' military capabilities, with targets such as command and control nodes, munitions, launching systems, production facilities, and air defense radar systems specifically chosen to impede their ability to strike ships in the Red Sea.

The UK, which participated in the airstrikes, echoed the claim that the operation was an act of self-defense to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the region.

US intelligence reports, which have been declassified, reveal that Iran has played a significant role in coordinating Houthi attacks on commercial and merchant ships by providing information about vessels passing through the area.

Officials believe that Iran is carefully calculating its response to Israel's war in Gaza, with the intent to allow and even encourage proxy groups like the Houthis to target Israeli and American interests in the region, while stopping short of acts that would lead to a direct confrontation with Iran itself.

There is concern among US officials that an inadvertent miscalculation by any party involved could escalate tensions, even though the major players - Iran, Israel, and the United States - do not desire a wider war. The Houthi rebels, driven by deep ideological hatred for Israel, are considered one of the most operationally independent of the Iranian proxy groups.

Analysts warn that an extended closure of the waterway connecting to the Suez Canal could disrupt global supply chains and increase the prices of manufactured goods, particularly at a time when there is already a battle against inflation. The Suez Canal accounts for 10% to 15% of world trade and 30% of global container shipping volumes, including oil exports.

Former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, Mick Mulroy, suggests that the US should target identified sites on the Yemen coast of the Sea of Aden, similar to the strikes on the Red Sea coast, to minimize the rebels' capabilities further.

In response to the situation, President Joe Biden stated that he would not hesitate to take further measures to protect people and ensure the free flow of international commerce if necessary.

The limited impact of the recent airstrikes highlights the delicate balance the Biden administration is navigating in the Middle East, where tensions between Iranian-backed groups, the US, and Israel pose a constant risk of escalation.