The New York Times published on 12 May 2025 an article titled "Why Trump Suddenly Declared Victory Over the Houthi Militia" by Helene Cooper, Greg Jaffe, Jonathan Swan, Eric Schmitt, and Maggie Haberman.
The Trump administration, following an internal debate, concluded that after 30 days of extensive airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen, it was just another expensive but inconclusive American military engagement in the region. The Houthis shot down 7 MQ-9 Reaper drones, two $67 million aircraft fell off an aircraft carrier, and the US burned through in one month about $1 billion worth of weapons and munitions that were becoming in short supply.
Although the operation disrupted and diminished Houthi capacity, it did not eliminate it or show signs of being able to do so. President Trump decided to declare victory, negotiate a ceasefire, and end the airstrikes.
