Trump ends costly Houthi campaign: US seeks peace truce
President Donald Trump has decided to end the U.S. offensive against the Yemeni Houthi rebels, which had persisted for over a month. As reported by "The New York Times," the campaign was not producing the expected results, and its costs were considerable. The first month of operations alone cost the United States over $1 billion (around €900 million).
A substantial force was engaged in the operation against the Houthis, including two aircraft carrier strike groups, B-2 bombers, and Patriot and THAAD air defence systems. The rebels shot down seven MQ-9 drones, each valued at approximately $30 million (roughly €27 million).
The U.S. Navy also lost two F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters, which fell into the Red Sea.
Threat to American soldiers
According to "NYT" sources, several American F-16 and F-35 fighter jets were nearly hit by Houthi air defences, posing a genuine threat to the lives of American soldiers. The use of ammunition, including precision long-range missiles, raised Pentagon concerns about stockpiles in the context of potential military aid to Taiwan.
Truce with the Houthis
From 15th April to 5th May, over 1,100 attacks were conducted against the Houthis, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of militants, including several commanders. Nonetheless, the campaign did not achieve the intended outcomes. Trump announced that the U.S.'s goal was to halt the Houthis' attacks on the Red Sea and "completely destroy" this group. However, the rebels, supported by Iran, continued to shell commercial vessels and U.S. ships.
Diplomatic solution
With little progress being made, Trump agreed to a truce proposed by Oman, which involved stopping Houthi attacks on American units in exchange for ceasing air raids. Both the U.S. and the Houthis presented the agreement as their victory. However, the truce does not include Houthi attacks on Israel, which took the nation by surprise.
Initially, the offensive was planned to last 8-10 months, but Trump decided to review it after just a month, showing his reluctance for prolonged conflicts in the Middle East.
