New details have surfaced explaining the sudden reversal by U.S. President Donald Trump in ending the nearly two-month-long bombing campaign against Yemen’s Ansar-Allah movement, commonly referred to as the Houthis.
According to reporting by The New York Times, Trump initially authorized the campaign with the goal of halting Ansar-Allah’s missile and drone attacks on Israeli-linked commercial vessels in the Red Sea, as well as direct strikes on Israel itself. However, Trump reportedly demanded tangible results within 30 days—a benchmark the campaign failed to meet.
By the end of that period, the U.S. had not achieved air superiority over Yemen. American MQ-9 Reaper drones continued to be shot down, and Ansar-Allah forces remained capable of targeting U.S. naval vessels operating in the region. Compounding concerns was the rapid depletion of high-cost munitions, a development that alarmed White House officials, particularly as Washington seeks to redirect military focus and resources toward countering China.
Several fighter jets, including an F-35 Stealth Fighter, were reportedly almost shot down the Ansar-Allah’s air defenses.
The breaking point reportedly came after the U.S. lost two F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets within a single week. At that juncture, Omani officials—already mediating separate U.S.-Iran talks between Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi—proposed a ceasefire. Under this arrangement, the U.S. would end its bombing campaign, and in return, Ansar-Allah would refrain from targeting U.S. vessels. Notably, the deal did not include a pledge from Ansar-Allah to halt attacks on Israel or Israeli-affiliated shipping.
Trump also rejected a Saudi-backed plan to extend the campaign and carry out targeted assassinations of Ansar-Allah leadership. He would also ultimately turn down a proposal to prolong the campaign in support of a planned ground offensive by the U.N.-recognized Yemeni government based in Aden, which aimed to retake ports and the capital, Sanaa.
In April, increased U.S. airstrikes along the line of contact between Ansar-Allah and pro-government forces, along with a visible troop buildup, fueled speculation that a ground operation was imminent.
Trump’s decision to abruptly pivot away from the Yemen campaign comes amid mounting friction with the Israeli government. According to reports from Israeli media, Trump came to believe Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has attempted to manipulate U.S. policy to provoke a war with Iran and obstruct meaningful diplomatic efforts in Gaza. As a result, the Trump Administration is now said to be pursuing its Middle East agenda without prior consultation with Israel.