Will A. Smith
The campaign against Yemen’s Houthi rebels was ineffective and costly. Now, the president should resist pressure to reengage.
When the United States launched “Operation Rough Rider” against the Houthis in mid-March, the group was targeting Israel but not U.S. ships. Around $1 billion later, the same is true today. While President Donald Trump declared victory against the Houthis in announcing his surprise ceasefire, the agreement merely restored the status quo that existed between the United States and the Houthis before the campaign.
Nevertheless, the Trump administration was right to take an offramp from what was quickly becoming an open-ended campaign with rising costs and escalation risks. However, with Houthi attacks on Israel continuing and criticism mounting, even among some of Trump’s allies, Washington could very well be drawn back in. The administration should reject pressure to “finish the job” and stand firm in its decision to walk away from the campaign.
A Futile and Costly Campaign
The campaign against the Houthis was misguided from the beginning—neither necessary to protect U.S. economic and security interests nor likely to succeed. Fundamentally, the limited economic disruption caused by Houthi attacks on shipping did not warrant costly military intervention, nor was the bombing campaign conducted by the United States capable of eliminating the Houthis’ ability to attack shipping.
Shipping firms quickly adapted to strikes on ships, rerouting vessels around Africa without major price increases for consumers, particularly in the United States. Moreover, even with the U.S.-Houthi ceasefire, most shippers do not plan on returning to the Red Sea until the Gaza War ends.
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