Pentagon Reportedly Frustrated by High Cost and Low Success in Yemen

The Trump Administration is reportedly becoming concerned about the high cost and limited success of its bombing campaign in Yemen against Ansarullah, referred to by the U.S. as the Houthis.

According to the New York TImes, Pentagon officials acknowledge the limited success of destroying the group's missile and drone arsenal, which is mostly underground.

The strikes, which began on March 15th, are said to have already cost $200 million worth of precision munitions, alongside the cost associated with deploying vast assets to the region, including THAAD air defense systems, two aircraft carriers and B-2 bombers.

Overall, the cost is expected to reach $1 billion by next week and according to a U.S. official cited in the report, the Pentagon may have to go to Congress to request additional funding as officials believe the campaign may take up to six months.

While the current strikes are said to be much larger than the ones conducted by the Biden Administration and with the Trump Administration publicly touting its success, the goal of opening up the Red Sea to shipping has not yet been achieved. Strikes earlier this week were said to have struck a water management facility in the Hodeidah region, which will further add to difficulties in civilian life though may not have an effect on the military capabilities of Ansarullah. 

Last January, the Biden Administration ordered airstrikes against Yemen in response to the blockade against shipping in the Red Sea. The strikes lasted for a full year until Joe Biden left office. When the former President was asked by reporters a week after the campaign began if the attacks were effective, Biden would state “Are they stopping the Houthis no, are they going to continue? Yes.”