Cost of US military offensive against Houthis nears $1 billion with limited impact

The cost of the U.S. military’s offensive against the Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen has reached nearly $1 billion in just under three weeks, but the campaign has had limited success in crippling the group’s capabilities, sources briefed on the operation told CNN.

Launched on March 15, the offensive has used hundreds of millions of dollars in munitions, including JASSM long-range cruise missiles, JSOW GPS-guided glide bombs, and Tomahawk missiles. B-2 bombers from Diego Garcia have also been deployed, and additional aircraft carriers, fighter squadrons, and air defense systems are expected to be sent to the Central Command region.

Despite these extensive strikes, the Pentagon has not publicly disclosed the extent to which the operations have affected Houthi capabilities. While several members of Houthi leadership have been killed and some military sites destroyed, the Houthis have been able to maintain their stockpiles and fortify their bunkers, much as they did during the previous strikes carried out under the Biden administration. The group's continued ability to target Red Sea shipping and shoot down U.S. drones has raised questions about the overall effectiveness of the campaign.

One source involved in the operation noted that, despite taking out some sites, the Houthis have continued their attacks on U.S. assets and have remained operational. The source also pointed out that the operation is depleting resources, such as munitions and fuel, without providing clear strategic gains. "We are burning through readiness—munitions, fuel, deployment time," the source said.

The operational tempo of the strikes has increased, with CENTCOM Commander Erik Kurilla now no longer requiring higher-level approval for each strike—a shift back to policies from the Trump administration's first term. The Pentagon has indicated that this offensive will continue until the Houthis stop targeting Red Sea shipping, although despite weeks of bombardment, the Houthis have continued to launch missiles and drones.

The U.S. has made some progress, with a decrease in ballistic missile attacks by the Houthis against Israel, and the strikes have disrupted Houthi communications and targeting accuracy. However, many of the Houthi officials killed in the strikes have been mid-level leaders, with the notable exception being the death of the group’s drone operations leader.

Some defense officials at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command have expressed concern over the large-scale use of long-range weapons like JASSMs and Tomahawks, fearing this could affect U.S. readiness in the Pacific region in the event of a conflict with China. However, other officials downplayed these concerns, asserting that the precision munitions used are necessary to maximize effectiveness in the Middle East while retaining readiness for any future conflict.

As the operation continues, the cost and strategic outcomes of the campaign remain uncertain, with critics on both sides of the aisle questioning its long-term impact. The Pentagon may need to request supplemental funding from Congress to sustain the operation, but political support for the campaign appears to be waning.

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