Trump Declares Victory Over Houthis, Ending U.S. Military Campaign

President Trump declared the U.S. military campaign against the Houthis in Yemen a success, abruptly ending the operation after 31 days of strikes against the militant group. The decision came despite the fact that the Houthis had not been defeated, and several American drones and fighter jets had been shot down or damaged. The campaign, dubbed Operation Rough Rider, had cost the U.S. over $1 billion in just 30 days, with the Pentagon deploying two aircraft carriers, additional B-2 bombers, and fighter jets to the Middle East.

The Houthis, known for their resilience, had continued to target American ships in the Red Sea, firing ballistic missiles and shooting down several American MQ-9 Reaper drones. The group also claimed responsibility for shooting down an American F-35 fighter jet, although this was not confirmed by the U.S. military. The U.S. had launched over 1,100 strikes against the Houthis, killing hundreds of fighters and destroying their equipment. However, the campaign had failed to establish air superiority, and the Houthis had continued to fight on.

The decision to end the campaign was met with skepticism from several members of the national security team, including the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, who had expressed concerns about the campaign's feasibility. The U.S. had also faced criticism for its handling of the operation, including the accidental dropping of operational plans about the strikes in a chat on the Signal app, which had been accessed by a journalist.

Key Takeaways:

• The U.S. military campaign against the Houthis in Yemen, dubbed Operation Rough Rider, lasted for 31 days and cost over $1 billion.
• The campaign involved over 1,100 strikes against the Houthis, killing hundreds of fighters and destroying their equipment.
• Despite the high cost and number of strikes, the Houthis continued to target American ships in the Red Sea and resist the U.S. military presence.
• The U.S. had deployed two aircraft carriers, additional B-2 bombers, and fighter jets to the Middle East to support the campaign.
• The operation was ended abruptly by President Trump, who declared it a success despite the fact that the Houthis had not been defeated.
• The decision to end the campaign was met with skepticism from several members of the national security team, including the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine.
• The U.S. faces criticism for its handling of the operation, including the accidental dropping of operational plans about the strikes in a chat on the Signal app, which was accessed by a journalist.
• The Houthis had continued to target American ships in the Red Sea, firing ballistic missiles and shooting down several American MQ-9 Reaper drones.

Statistics:

• The U.S. military campaign against the Houthis lasted for 31 days.
• The campaign involved over 1,100 strikes against the Houthis.
• The cost of the campaign exceeded $1 billion in the first 30 days.
• The U.S. had deployed two aircraft carriers, additional B-2 bombers, and fighter jets to the Middle East to support the campaign.
• Seven American MQ-9 Reaper drones were shot down by the Houthis during the campaign.
• Two pilots and a flight deck crew member were injured in the two episodes involving the F/A-18 Super Hornets that fell into the Red Sea.
• The Pentagon reported that over 1,000 targets had been hit, including multiple command and control facilities, air defense systems, advanced weapons manufacturing facilities, and advanced weapons storage locations.
• The Houthi ballistic missile that evaded Israel's aerial defenses and struck near Ben-Gurion International Airport outside Tel Aviv was not intercepted.

Sources:

• The New York Times, "Trump Declares Victory Over Houthis, Ending U.S. Military Campaign"
• Reuters, "Houthis claim responsibility for shooting down US MQ-9 Reaper drone"
• The White House, "Statement from President Trump on the U.S. Military Campaign against the Houthis in Yemen"
• The Pentagon, "Report on the U.S. Military Campaign against the Houthis in Yemen"
• Officials with knowledge of the discussions in the president's national security circle, as cited in The New York Times article.