Report reveals failure of US strikes against Yemen's Houthis

In just three weeks, the United States has spent USD 200 million on munitions in Operation Rough Rider, targeting Iran-backed Houthi in Yemen, according to defense officials.

President Trump declared the Houthis “decimated” by the strikes he ordered on March 15. However, Pentagon and military briefings to Congress and allied nations tell a different story.

Behind closed doors, officials admit that despite the intensity of the bombing—heavier than under the Biden administration and beyond what’s been publicly disclosed—results have been limited.

The Houthis’ extensive network of underground bunkers, missile systems, and drone facilities has proven difficult to destroy – according to defense officials cited by the New York Times.

Houthi fighters reinforced key sites, hampering US efforts to stop missile attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea.

Intelligence agencies have struggled to track the militia’s weapons, many of which are smuggled from Iran and produced in hidden underground facilities.

Adding to the cost, the U.S. has deployed two aircraft carriers, B-2 bombers, fighter jets, and air defense systems like Patriot and THAAD to the region.

Total operational expenses could exceed USD 1 billion by next week, and the Pentagon may soon request supplemental funding from Congress.

Officials also raised concerns over the rapid depletion of precision munitions—especially long-range ones—warning it could strain US Navy stockpiles and affect readiness in a potential conflict with China over Taiwan.

While the Trump administration has relied on intelligence gathered during Biden’s term—along with targeting data from “Israel”—officials say hitting high-value Houthi targets remains a major challenge.

The strikes against Yemen also proved costly in terms of civilians lives.

A report released by Airwars, a British organization that assesses claims of civilian casualties; many of the attacks took place in populated areas, which the report says suggests “that the Trump administration is choosing targets that pose a more direct risk to civilians and may indicate a higher tolerance to the risk of civilian harm.”

This is due to Trump delegating the strike authority to regional and local commanders, in order to intensify and hasten the attacks – unlike the attacks of the Biden administration.