Current Events: May 21, 2025

America’s Failed War Against the Houthi of Yemen

Trump’s Surprise Truce Hurts Israel

In late 2023, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen launched a bold campaign of missile and drone attacks on commercial and military ships in the Red Sea, a vital global trade route. Their stated goal? Solidarity with Hamas’s war with Israel in Gaza after the Hamas terror attacks of October 7, 2023.

Under President Joe Biden, the U.S. Navy (with British military help also),  responded with Operation Prosperity Guardian in December 2023, a multinational effort to protect shipping lanes. Airstrikes targeted Houthi missile sites and infrastructure, but the Houthis persisted, sinking two cargo vessels and disrupting 15% of global trade. Biden’s approach, criticized as restrained, failed to fully deter the Houthis, who launched over 100 attacks by early 2025.

When President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, he escalated the campaign, launching Operation Rough Rider on March 15. The U.S. Navy, alongside Air Force assets, struck over 1,000 Houthi targets, including command centers and weapon depots, killing hundreds of Houthi fighters. But the $1 billion campaign saw setbacks—seven MQ-9 drones were lost, and Houthi resilience frustrated U.S. efforts.

Despite the intensity, the Houthis continued attacks, including a missile strike near Tel Aviv’s airport in May 2025. Trump, frustrated with a lack of quick results, announced a surprising ceasefire on May 6. The Houthis agreed to halt attacks on U.S. ships, though they vowed more attacks on Israel, which they have continued.

The truce marked a shift from Biden’s limited strikes to Trump’s aggressive but costly, but futile campaign. While the U.S. Navy restored some Red Sea stability, experts argue the Houthis’ defiance shows airstrikes alone can’t end the threat. A broader strategy, possibly involving ground operations or diplomacy, may be needed.

The U.S. Navy’s two-year fight against the Houthis highlights the challenges of countering a determined foe in a complex region. Will the ceasefire hold? Only time will tell.

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