The United States ends attacks on the Houthis after a costly two-month military operation

The United States has ended its campaign of attacks against the Houthis in Yemen after two months of costly military operations and growing risks for personnel deployed there, according to a report in the New York Times. 

The campaign that was launched on March 15 was said to be an effort to degrade Houthi capabilities targeting vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 2023 in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. But it quickly turned into a high-cost operation with diminishing returns. 

In just 30 days, the Houthis downed at least seven MQ-9 Reaper drones, each valued at around $30 million, preventing the US from achieving its goal of air superiority, according to CNN. 

Several F-16s and an F-35 aircraft narrowly escaped Houthi air defences, “making real the possibility of American casualties,” US officials told the New York Times. 

And two F/A-18 Super Hornets, worth $67 million each, fell into the sea from the USS Harry S Truman aircraft carrier in separate incidents. Three US personnel were injured during the incidents. 

The US military spent approximately $1 billion in munitions during the first month of the campaign, the newspaper reported, raising concerns about the sustainability of the operation. 

Behind the scenes, Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, engaged in Omani-mediated nuclear talks with Iran, reported a proposed off-ramp from Oman. Muscat urged the US to halt bombing in exchange for a cessation of Houthi attacks on American vessels, according to American and Arab officials. 

The US launched major air strikes campaign against Houthi targets in Yemen from March 15 to May 6, killing hundreds of Yemenis. 

The campaign ended with US President Donald Trump announcing a surprise ceasefire. According to experts, Trump’s decision irritated Israel because the deal to end the bombing did not also include an end to the Houthi attacks on Israel. 

The Houthis, Washington and Yemen neighbours saw some benefit in striking a deal. For the Houthis, it offered an off-ramp that could allow them to rebuild and relieve pressure that, over months or years, could have strategically put them at risk, US officials and experts say. 

Washington’s allies in the region also wanted out, a source said. 

“Because if the Houthis were under more pressure, their response was going to be to fire on the Saudis or the Emiratis,” one person familiar with the matter said.