NYN | News
Foreign Policy magazine has revealed the failure of the military campaign led by the Trump administration against Yemen, which has entered its sixth week without achieving its declared objectives—chief among them securing navigation and restoring deterrence.
The report stated that the operation, details of which leaked during a Signal app conversation accidentally attended by a journalist, has yielded no tangible results. Instead, it has caused a noticeable slowdown in shipping traffic through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, while Sana’a forces have continued their attacks on U.S. and Israeli vessels with increasing frequency and no signs of retreat.
Despite the campaign’s financial cost surpassing the $1 billion mark, the Trump administration has failed to reduce the effectiveness of Yemeni strikes. This comes amid a continued depletion of U.S. precision munitions—assets experts deem critical in the event of a potential conflict with China, especially given declining stockpiles of long-range aerial ammunition.
The report also criticized the near-total lack of transparency in managing the campaign, noting the absence of formal briefings. U.S. Central Command has merely published promotional videos on social media attacking the Houthis, without providing real data on targets or results.
Military analysts downplayed the impact of deploying two U.S. aircraft carriers in the operation, pointing out that Sana’a’s persistence in expanding its attacks against American and Israeli interests—particularly recent strikes on Ramon Airbase and MQ-9 drones—poses a direct challenge to U.S. military presence in the region.
Maritime expert Alessio Patalano questioned the campaign’s utility, arguing it is ineffective if the goal is to protect freedom of navigation. He also criticized the diversion of military resources from the Indo-Pacific, which is considered a top U.S. strategic priority.
According to the report, the worsening global economic crisis, fueled in part by U.S. policies including Trump’s trade wars, has diminished the urgency of reopening shipping corridors. Container ship rates have fallen globally, and companies no longer view Bab al-Mandeb as an essential passageway as they once did.
The magazine added that Sana’a forces have skillfully leveraged their strategic position at Bab al-Mandeb, applying direct pressure on Israel and its allies. This has prompted the U.S. and UK to deploy naval assets without achieving results, as insurance costs remain high and shipping activity continues to decline.
The report concluded by noting that the Trump administration is seeking a military victory in Yemen to compensate for previous failures. However, the unfolding military and political reality underscores yet another failure to grasp the complexities of the regional landscape.
