Recent US military strikes on Yemen, accompanied by a warning from President Donald Trump directed at the Houthis that ‘your time is up’ have prompted more questions than answers. So far, the US appears to have no intention of a ground invasion, with an anonymous US source telling CNN it would be limited to “a series of sustained and targeted strategic attacks.”
While the majority of Yemenis object to the widespread devastation the strikes inflicted on civilian infrastructure, others in the country would love to see the Houthis destroyed. But having said that, Yemenis—no matter their political affiliation—are wary of Israeli involvement in their country, as well as American and British military action on their behalf, and would much rather be given the ability to defeat the Houthis themselves.
But after nearly a decade of war, no one has been able to defeat the group militarily, nor have diplomatic efforts to reach a political solution worked, which begs the question: what is Washington’s goal here, and do they even have a game plan?
'All options on the table'
Comments made by US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz may give us a hint. Speaking Sunday on ABC’s This Week, he said the US did not rule out the use of force against Iran, either in relation to its support for Yemen’s Houthis or its potential development of a nuclear weapon, adding: “All options are always on the table with the president. But Iran needs to hear him loud and clear.”
The US has said it is targeting Houthis' military infrastructure, including manufacturing workshops, missile and drone launch platforms, land and naval mine production facilities, radar systems, training camps, and other military assets. By striking buildings within the group's security zone in Al-Jiraf and Shu’aub, it is clear that Washington’s focus is on eliminating key Houthi leadership, spanning first-, second-, and third-tier commanders.
The Al-Jiraf district is home to the Houthis' political bureau headquarters, the offices of its media arm, Al-Masirah TV, and the residences of several senior leaders. The neighbourhood, situated north of Sana’a, had previously been a hub of intense Houthi activity and was the first area in the city to be seized by the group’s militants during their invasion of Sana’a on 21 September 2014.
The list of military targets in Houthi-controlled areas has already been compiled by the Biden administration when the Pentagon was instructed to identify key Houthi leaders for potential strikes. US intelligence agencies were also directed to gather extensive data on their locations, movements, phone numbers, and those of their associates. However, the implementation of this plan was delayed due to Biden’s focus on his re-election campaign—a move that his successor, Donald Trump, later condemned as "pathetic" and lacking decisiveness.
The Houthis make up no more than 10% of Yemen’s population—which is estimated at around 40 million, both inside and outside the country. As such, the group lacks the legitimate mandate to declare war against any domestic or foreign entity unilaterally. But they control a vast and geographically complex area, larger than both Gaza and southern Lebanon combined. They also do not share a border with Israel, giving it a lot more distance from "the enemy".
