During President Trump’s second term, U.S. operations against the Houthi rebels in Yemen escalated substantially, with the administration launching its largest Middle East military campaign of the term—Operation Rough Rider—beginning in March 2025.
This extensive campaign consisted of concentrated air and naval strikes on Houthi missile, radar, drone, and air defense sites, aiming to halt the group’s attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The operation reportedly caused significant fatalities, including both militants and civilians, and substantially ramped up the intensity and lethality of U.S. strikes compared to prior efforts.[1][2][3][4]
Trump’s policy in Yemen during his second term focused on forceful military strikes and isolating the Houthis, prioritizing U.S. military interests and shipping security over diplomatic efforts or humanitarian support. The campaign’s conclusion came more from a cost–benefit calculation than a sustainable settlement, and key issues in Yemen—including the civil war and humanitarian crisis—remain unresolved.[10][7][14]