The US military’s operation against Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen has cost nearly $1 billion in just under three weeks, despite limited impact on destroying the terror group’s capabilities. The campaign, launched on March 15, has used hundreds of millions of dollars worth of munitions, including long-range cruise missiles and GPS-guided glide bombs.
B-2 bombers out of Diego Garcia are being used against the Houthis, along with an additional aircraft carrier, fighter squadrons, and air defense systems. The Pentagon may need to request supplemental funding from Congress to continue the operation, which has been criticized on both sides of the aisle.
The military strikes have eliminated some Houthi leadership members and destroyed military sites, but the group remains able to fortify bunkers and maintain weapons stockpiles underground. The Houthis’ ability to continue launching missiles and drones at targets in the Red Sea has not been significantly affected by the operation.
CENTCOM Commander Erik Kurilla’s shift to giving military commanders more freedom to conduct strikes without higher-level approval has increased the operational tempo of the strikes. However, concerns about the impact on US military readiness in the Pacific have been raised among officials at US Indo-Pacific Command.
The Trump administration plans to continue the offensive until the Houthis stop attacking Red Sea shipping, but the effectiveness of this strategy remains unclear. Despite weeks of bombing, the Houthis have continued launching missiles and drones at targets in the Red Sea.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/04/politics/cost-us-military-houthis-limited-impact/index.html