Watan-On March 15, the U.S. launched an offensive on Yemen under the orders of President Donald Trump, beginning with a series of airstrikes targeting positions and sites affiliated with the Houthis in northern and western Yemen. These airstrikes have since intensified in frequency and geographic scope.
The strikes, ordered by Trump, came in response to the Houthis resuming operations in regional waters as a show of support for Gaza, after Israel resumed its war on the Strip and rejected a ceasefire agreement. During Joe Biden’s presidency, U.S. airstrikes were also launched against Houthi targets in Yemen, also in response to “support for Gaza,” which included obstructing and targeting commercial ships and oil tankers in the Red Sea that the Houthis claimed were linked to Israel or headed to occupied territories. The Houthis have also repeatedly launched missiles—including hypersonic ones—into Israeli territory and claimed engagements with U.S. aircraft carriers in the region.
During Biden’s term, the U.S. Air Force carried out strikes on Houthi sites, sometimes in coordination with the UK Royal Air Force. Israel has also launched multiple airstrikes on Yemeni territory. However, the offensive on Yemen that began on March 15 under Trump is the most intense and has resulted in dozens of deaths in Houthi-controlled areas.
Objectives of the U.S. Offensive on Yemen
The airstrikes have primarily targeted three key cities that serve as strongholds of Houthi control:
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Sana’a, the political capital of the Houthis,
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Saada, the group’s main stronghold and arsenal hub in the north, and
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Hodeidah, the strategic coastal province vital to their economic resources and maritime operations.
However, the range of targeted areas has expanded to include most provinces wholly or partially under Houthi control, such as Marib, Al-Jawf, Al-Bayda, Hajjah, Amran, Dhamar, Ibb, and Taiz. These strikes mainly target military camps, tunnels, weapons depots, communication systems, and Houthi leadership compounds.
American warplanes have been striking daily. On Tuesday morning, U.S. airstrikes hit Houthi targets in Al-Jaf and Al-Qadeer near Al-Hazm city in Al-Jawf. The U.S. also carried out two strikes in Al-Abdiyah district of Marib, and late Monday night bombed Al-Yatmah in Khab wa Ash Sha’af, also in Al-Jawf. Other Monday airstrikes hit Houthi military camps, weapons depots, and infrastructure across Marib and Hodeidah.
Over 20 strikes targeted Marib districts including Madghal, Raghwan, Majzar, Sirwah, and Al-Jubah. The U.S. conducted 6 strikes on Halhalan valley in Majzar and 15 strikes in Raghwan and Madghal, and 4 more on depots at the outskirts of Al-Jubah. In Mass Camp, massive explosions were reported following U.S. airstrikes. Further attacks hit Kamaran Island, part of Hodeidah province.
Since March 15, these U.S. airstrikes—claiming to solely target the Houthis—have killed dozens, including women and children, destroyed homes, and caused power outages. According to Houthi figures cited by Anadolu Agency, 123 civilians have been killed and at least 247 injured, mostly women and children, not including Houthi fighters.
Despite Trump warning Iran it would be held accountable for Houthi attacks, ongoing nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran have not halted the U.S. strikes. More than 500 airstrikes have been carried out in one month, escalating in response to continued Houthi missile and drone attacks on U.S. naval forces and occupied Palestinian territories. U.S. officials have repeatedly stated operations will continue until Red Sea navigation is secured.
According to the New York Times (April 4), Pentagon officials estimate the campaign may last six months and cost over $1 billion, prompting possible additional funding requests to Congress.
Escalation and U.S. Military Deployment
The Houthis’ “escalation for escalation” strategy has driven the U.S. to intensify its military posture. The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) has entered the Red Sea, and the U.S. Central Command released footage of fighter jets taking off from it. On April 5, CNN reported that B-2 bombers from Diego Garcia are also being deployed against the Houthis.
Washington has warned that any country or commercial entity aiding the Houthis—by unloading ships or refueling them in ports under their control—could be prosecuted under U.S. law.
In April, U.S. airstrikes evolved to target moving objectives, including vehicles carrying Houthi leaders. On April 2, a vehicle carrying Houthi commanders was bombed in Qahaza, Bilad Ar Rus district, south of Sana’a. On April 8, U.S. airstrikes hit a convoy in Kofel, Sirwah district, killing a commander and 17 of his escorts. Another vehicle carrying leaders near Sabaeen Square in central Sana’a was struck on April 9, killing all three aboard.
Military and Tactical Impact
The strikes have targeted communications networks used for military operations in districts like Dhibin and Harf Sufyan (Amran), Jiblah and Ba’dan (Ibb), and Bura (Hodeidah).
Strike locations trace a map of key missile and weapon storage areas, stretching from Maran and Saada’s mountains through Amran, Sana’a, and Hajja to Marib and Al-Jawf. Coastal areas in Hodeidah and Kamaran Island are used for missile and drone launches and command operations.
Due to Yemen’s rugged terrain and fortified mountainous storage sites, the U.S. has used bunker-busting and seismic bombs to penetrate deep underground targets. The Houthis have also reportedly stored weapons in civilian facilities, such as the Sawari ceramic factory in Bani Matar district, which was hit by several strikes last Sunday.
In response, the Houthis have imposed strict security measures and limited information about the outcomes of the airstrikes, only reporting civilian casualties. They have also conducted mass arrests in provinces like Saada, accusing detainees of providing targeting intel to the U.S.
Expert Analysis and U.S. Assessment
Political analyst Saeed Aqlaan stated that the U.S. is now focusing its strikes on:
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Military sites,
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Weapon depots and missile launchpads,
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Command centers,
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Infrastructure like airports and telecom networks, and
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Key Houthi leaders, based on apparent internal intelligence leaks, which has sown fear within the group.
He noted that U.S. strikes have disrupted Houthi operations and reduced their frequency of attacks on USS Truman, which has allegedly been targeted over 20 times. The CENTCOM has at times denied these claims or released footage showing preparations for strikes from the carrier.
Aqlaan also observed a drop in hypersonic missile launches compared to early stages of the U.S. campaign.
After returning to office on January 20, Trump reclassified the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). But according to experts, the impact of the offensive remains limited due to challenges in intelligence gathering and the complexity of Yemen’s terrain, particularly in the north, which protects Houthi arsenals developed over years.
Strategic Concerns and Regional Risks
Researcher Elizabeth Dent, in a March 28 report from the Washington Institute, expressed concerns about U.S. military readiness and munitions supplies. She stressed the need for partner coordination and stricter naval interdictions to halt Houthi resupply chains.
Michael Knights warned that forcing the Houthis to halt attacks may be nearly impossible due to their resilience. He added that they might escalate by targeting Saudi Arabia, prompting the U.S. to prove it can defend Riyadh with the same determination it shows for Israel.
Naoum Ridan added that Iranian-backed Houthi military development poses serious risks to U.S., Saudi, and allied interests, warning that growing capabilities could push the Houthis to expand their regional role beyond the Gaza war.
According to CNN (April 5), a U.S. defense official admitted that while some Houthi sites have been destroyed, their ability to strike Red Sea ships and down U.S. drones remains intact. Another official noted a decrease in Houthi missile attacks on Israel, suggesting that the U.S. bombing campaign is disrupting their coordination and accuracy by forcing them to keep their heads down.
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