Trump’s Houthi Campaign Costs America Over $1 Billion

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s military operations against the Houthis have not severely weakened the militant group but have cost the United States over $1 billion since March. This figure includes the expensive deployment of thousands of bombs and missiles, plus the loss of drones and fighter jets, according to two U.S. officials briefed on the costs.

Despite weeks of American military activity, the Houthis demonstrated their capability by launching an attack that targeted Israel’s main international airport earlier this week.

On Tuesday, Trump announced a surprising deal wherein the U.S. would suspend its strikes and operations against the Iran-backed Houthis. In exchange, the Houthis have allegedly agreed to halt their attacks on U.S. shipping. However, it remains unclear how sustainable this agreement will be, with many questions about its long-term implications.

The agreement, which involved mediation by the Omani government, specifically addresses U.S. ships. Reports suggest the Houthis may continue targeting other nations’ vessels as they have in the past.

“The administration was clearly looking for an off-ramp for this campaign against the Houthis,” a U.S. official familiar with the operations stated.

The Pentagon has yet to respond to inquiries about the agreement. The effectiveness of U.S. military actions since March has been challenging to measure. U.S. drones intended to assess damage have frequently been shot down by the Houthis, and no American ground forces are present in Yemen to evaluate the campaign’s success.

Since the launch of Operation Rough Rider on March 15, the Pentagon has used roughly 2,000 bombs and missiles against the Houthis at a cost exceeding $775 million. This includes hundreds of costly 2,000-pound bombs, Tomahawk missiles, and air-launched cruise missiles, among other munitions.

Additionally, at least $10 million was spent to move two Patriot missile defense systems to the region. This figure does not include other operational costs. The U.S. military used several C-17 flights to transport a single Patriot air defense system from its base.

Critics express concern about the administration’s lack of commitment toward a long-term strategy against the Houthis. “Washington has little patience and a short attention span and was unlikely to commit the resources and high-level attention necessary to see this campaign through,” said Dana Stroul, a former top policy official at the Pentagon.

If the recent agreement holds, it could allow the U.S. to justify stopping its offensive against the Houthis. However, it is unlikely to end the conflict or stop the group from disrupting shipping in the Red Sea.

“The Houthis will stop shooting at U.S. ships for some period of time,” Stroul added. “But they will not stop firing missiles at Israel, commercial shipping will not return, and nothing will change in the Yemen civil war.”

As the situation develops, the Biden administration also initiated operations against the Houthis to protect the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea after the Houthis began targeting international shipping.

In March, Trump’s team escalated military pressure on the group by deploying additional forces and missile defense systems in the region. Yet, there were internal disagreements over the extent of the campaign against the Houthis within the administration.

Reported discussions indicated differentiating views about Trump’s long-term commitment to the conflict, raising concerns among officials about the sustainability of military options.

Should the Houthis adhere to the agreement, the Trump administration may portray it as a success, claiming victory in restoring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.