An Assessment of US Airstrikes on Houthi Rebels in Yemen

 The CTC Sentinel published in June 2025 an analysis titled "Feature Commentary: An Assessment of Operation Rough Rider" by Gregory Johnsen, an expert on Yemen.  

The United States carried out more than 1,100 airstrikes over 52 days this past spring against Houthi rebels in Yemen.  This article provides an assessment of that campaign known as Operation Rough Rider.  The US intelligence community reportedly concluded that the airstrikes caused "some degradation" but the Houthis were in a position to easily reconstitute, regroup, and rebound.  The Red Sea crisis is far from over.  

End of Houthi Campaign and Way Forward

 The Hill published on 19 May 2025 a commentary titled "What the End of the Houthi Campaign Means for US Power" by Michael Knights.

After 52 days of more than 1,000 airstrikes on the Houthis in Yemen, President Trump ordered they stop.  The question is what was accomplished and where does US policy go from here.

Why Trump Declared Victory and Ended Campaign Against Houthis

 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.  

How the Houthis Outlasted America

 Foreign Affairs published on 9 May 2025 an article titled "How the Houthis Outlasted America" by April Longley Alley, previously at the US Institute of Peace.

President Trump announced on 6 May that the US would end its airstrikes, which totaled more than 1,000, on Houthi targets in Yemen.  The situation in the Red Sea today is essentially the same as it was before the administration's round of US airstrikes on the Houthis, although they are low on munitions and their leadership has been temporarily disrupted.  

Trump said the Houthis "capitulated," but they retain their hold on power and called the ceasefire a "victory for Yemen."  Although the US campaign put the Houthis under tremendous pressure, they were far from deterred, much less defeated, at the time of the ceasefire.  

What Has the US Understanding with the Houthis Accomplished?

 The reason.com, a libertarian magazine, posted on 7 May 2025 an article titled "Trump Gets Bored with the War in Yemen" by Matthew Petti.  

President Trump claimed victory over the Houthis on 6 May, ensuring freedom of navigation through the Red Sea. A Houthi leader said, however, that direct attacks on Israel would continue.

Sourcing Journal posted on 7 May 2025 an article titled "Trump Says Houthis Will Cease Attacks on Red Sea Shipping" by Glenn Taylor.

President Trump said the Houthis have told us that "they don't want to fight anymore."  He added "they have capitulated."  It remains unclear, however, if the Houthis will stop attacks on all international shipping or just American and UK-flagged vessels. There was no mention of ending attacks on Israel.  

US-led Airstrikes on Yemen and Houthi Attacks on Shipping in Red Sea

 Aljazeera posted on 1 May 2025 a video/written document titled "Animated Maps Show US-led Attacks on Yemen" by Mohamed A. Hussein and Alia Chughtai.  

Since the beginning of Operation Rough Rider on 15 March, the United States says it has hit over 1,000 targets in Yemen. Most of the airstrikes have targeted Saada (59 attacks), followed by the capital of Sanaa (37 attacks), and the port of Hodeidah (35 attacks).  The map shows the location of the attacks from 15 March until 18 April.  A separate map shows Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.

UK Strikes Houthis for First Time since Trump Took Office

 CNN published on 30 April 2025 an article titled "UK Launches Strikes against Houthis in Yemen, In First Joint US Operation under Trump" by Jessie Yeung.  

The UK launched airstrikes against the Houthis on 29 April in the first joint operation with the United States since the beginning of the Trump administration.  The target was a cluster of buildings south of the capital Sanaa used by Houthis to manufacture drones. 

US Airstrikes Degrade Houthis' Ability to Launch Attacks

 Stars and Stripes published on 28 April 2025 an article titled "US Military Actions against Houthis Degrading Group's Attack Abilities, CENTCOM says" by Lara Korte.

The US Central Command says it has significantly degraded the ability of the Houthis to launch ballistic missile and drone attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.  At the same time, questions continue to be raised as to the overall effectiveness of Operation Rough Rider.  

The Cost of the Airstrikes on Houthis in Yemen

 ABC News published on 23 April 2025 an article titled "Houthis Shoot Down Growing Number of US Drones" by Luis Martinez.

This report quotes a US official as saying there have been about 750 US airstrikes against the Houthis since the beginning of Operation Rough Rider on 15 March.  This is a much higher number than other reporting.  The Houthis have shot down 6 Reaper drones during the same period and a seventh in early March.  Since US engagement against the Houthis began in October 2023, the Houthis have downed at least 15 Reapers.

US Airstrikes on the Houthis in Yemen: How Does It End?

 Vox published on 24 April 2025 a commentary titled "The US Has Quietly Gotten into Another War in the Middle East" by Joshua Keating.

In the current campaign against the Houthis in Yemen, there have been at least 250 US airstrikes.  The Trump administration says it is satisfied with the results so far.  On the other hand, there is a widespread belief among regional analysts that airstrikes alone will not defeat the Houthis.  While it is too early to declare the United States has entered a quagmire, it is also unclear how this US engagement ends.  

What Is US Strategy in Campaign against Houthis?

 The International Crisis Group posted on 23 April 2025 a commentary titled "The Trump Administration's Renewed Conflict with the Houthis" by Brian Finucane. 

The author argues that the objectives of US airstrikes on the Houthis in Yemen and how the airstrikes are intended to achieve these objectives reman murky.   

Where Is the War against the Houthis Leading?

 The New York Times published on 24 April 2025 a commentary titled "A Beleaguered Hegseth Wanders into His Forever War" by W.J. Hennigan.

The cost of the US military operation against the Houthis in Yemen is expected to reach $2 billion in May.  The Houthis have shot down 6 $30 million MQ-9 Reaper drones and continue to resist.  The author argues that the US will soon confront the same no-win decision that bedeviled Trump's predecessors in the Middle East: retreat or escalate.  

Bombing the Houthi in Yemen Won't Work

 The Atlantic published on 8 April 2025 an article titled "Bombing the Houthis Won't Work" by Robert F. Worth.  

The article concludes that the Trump administration's airstrikes, dubbed Operation Rough Rider by Pete Hegseth, against Houthi rebels in Yemen are likely to backfire badly if the administration does not change course.  Air power alone rarely wins wars, and the Houthis inhabit a remote, mountainous hinterland where much of their weaponry is probably safe from harm.  To destroy this weaponry would require a ground operation, which apparently is not part of the US war plan.