Trump has said that the U.S.’s air campaign against the Houthi rebels was “very successful but maybe tomorrow, an attack will be made, in which case we go back on the offensive”.
From: The Times of Israel May 13, 2025 How a floundering US campaign against the Houthis reportedly led Trump to a truce:
US president wanted results within 30 days, but after $1 billion spent, several drones and two fighter jets lost, Yemeni rebels were still firing back The New York Times reports.
US President Donald Trump’s sudden announcement of a truce with Yemen’s Houthi rebels after two months of an intense bombing campaign came because the military operation was struggling and showed no sign of reaching an imminent conclusion The New York Times reported Monday, citing US officials.
According to the report, though US airstrikes caused some damage, the Houthis had moved significant assets to underground bunkers, limiting the offensive’s effects, and were still firing back at US Navy ships when Trump declared the ceasefire.
It quoted three US officials as saying that General Michael E. Kurilla, the head of Central Command, had proposed a campaign of eight to 10 months in which strikes would take out Houthi air defense systems, after which the US would use targeted assassinations — modeled on Israel’s campaign against the Hezbollah terror group in Lebanon.
While the Saudis backed the plan and provided a list of a dozen top Houthi officials for assassination, the United Arab Emirates was more wary, the report said.
At 31 days and a $1 billion bill, the president asked for a progress report, administration officials said. But it showed that the US was heading into an expensive, indefinite military campaign.
Voices in the intelligence community noted that though there was “some degradation” of the Houthis’ abilities, the group could easily regain them, the report said, citing unnamed officials.
but maybe tomorrow, an attack will be made, in which case we go back on the offensive”.
