U.S. Strikes Militant Targets in Yemen

U.S. Launches Major Offensive Against Houthi Militia in Yemen

On Saturday, the United States commenced large-scale military strikes targeting multiple sites controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia in Yemen. This operation marks a significant escalation in U.S. efforts to counter the Houthis, who have disrupted international shipping lanes in the Red Sea for several months. The air and naval strikes, authorized by President Donald Trump, aimed at crippling the Houthis’ radar systems, air defenses, and missile and drone capabilities.

The Biden administration had conducted similar strikes against the Houthis in the past but largely failed to deter their aggressive actions. U.S. officials have stated that these new airstrikes represent not only the most substantial military action during Trump’s second term but also serve as a warning to Iran. Trump is keen to negotiate a deal with Iran to prevent its acquisition of nuclear weapons but remains open to military action should negotiations fail.

The airstrikes are expected to target the Houthi arsenal, much of which is concealed underground, and could extend over several days, increasing in scope based on the militants’ responses. The U.S. intelligence community has faced difficulties previously in identifying and locating Houthi weaponry, which is manufactured in hidden factories and smuggled from Iran.

In the wake of a series of high-level meetings at the White House, U.S. national security aides have expressed a desire to intensify military efforts to weaken Houthi control over northern Yemen. However, President Trump has not yet endorsed a full-scale offensive strategy, mindful of his campaign pledges to avoid deeper U.S. entanglement in Middle Eastern conflicts.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed for U.S.-Israel collaboration to dismantle Iranian nuclear capabilities amid perceived vulnerabilities in Iran’s air defenses, following Israel’s successful bombing campaign that degraded critical military infrastructure. Nevertheless, Trump has resisted calls from both Israeli officials and U.S. hawks to engage in major military action against Iran.

Since the Hamas-led offensive against Israel in October 2023, the Houthis have launched over 100 attacks on merchant ships and war vessels in the Red Sea, employing missiles, drones, and explosive-laden speedboats. Their actions, which have severely disrupted global trade through a major shipping corridor, largely ceased when a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas was established in January.

However, tensions escalated recently when the Houthis launched a surface-to-air missile at a U.S. Air Force F-16 operating over the Red Sea, missing the aircraft. On the same day, a U.S. military MQ-9 Reaper drone reportedly went missing, with Houthi militants claiming responsibility for its downing.

Additionally, the Houthis have warned of renewed attacks on Israel if humanitarian aid to Gaza is obstructed by Israel, demonstrating their ongoing commitment to the Palestinian cause.

The recent U.S. strikes were conducted by aircraft from the Harry S. Truman carrier, positioned in the northern Red Sea, along with Air Force attack planes and armed drones launched from nearby bases. During the Biden administration, assaults on commercial shipping by the Houthis had prompted several counterstrikes by U.S. and British forces.

Despite these efforts, the U.S.-led military actions have not effectively deterred Houthi aggression against shipping lines critical to global trade. Hundreds of vessels are currently rerouting around southern Africa, which significantly increases transportation costs. Even following the ceasefire in Gaza, major shipping companies have continued to avoid the Red Sea in favor of longer routes.

The U.S. administration previously sought to diminish Houthi threats to maritime vessels without causing large-scale casualties among Houthi fighters, to avoid further escalating the conflict and drawing Iran into a wider war. However, with the weakening of Iran’s proxies, such as Hezbollah and Hamas, following recent military actions, Trump appears to have more freedom to conduct a comprehensive bombing campaign against the Houthis as a strategic deterrent in negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

Despite this military escalation, there is skepticism about whether renewed bombardments will succeed where past American-led interventions have fallen short.

The Houthis, whose military capabilities were developed over years of conflict with a Saudi-led coalition, have expressed enthusiasm regarding potential war with the U.S. Since overtaking large portions of northern Yemen in 2014, they have cultivated an ideology rooted in resistance against U.S. and Israeli influence.

In January, Trump issued an executive order reclassifying the Houthis as a “foreign terrorist organization,” invoking concerns regarding regional security. This designation reversed previous moves by the Biden administration, which had briefly lifted the label to facilitate diplomatic negotiations in Yemen.

As military tensions rise, officials in the U.S. and Middle East anticipate possible Houthi retaliation following the recent airstrikes. Houthis spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam emphasized on social media that despite the ceasefire, their commitment to the Palestinian cause would remain paramount, while they warned that attacks on vessels associated with the U.S. or Britain would resume should direct hostilities against Yemen occur.

Recent assessments indicate that the Houthis may have acquired advanced technologies that enhance the capabilities of their military drones, complicating detection efforts and extending their operational range, further intensifying the challenges for U.S. and allied forces in the region.