https://archive.ph/S1lTJ

The campaign was expected to yield results within 30 days—but instead ended in a political declaration of success with no decisive military gain.

Trump approved the bombing campaign in early 2024, hoping for a quick resolution. By Day 31, U.S. forces had failed to suppress Ansar Allah’s operational capabilities and achieve air superiority. The group continued firing at Red Sea vessels, shot down multiple American MQ-9 Reaper drones (each worth ~$30 million), and forced U.S. aircraft—including F-16s and F-35s—to evade advanced air defenses.

American munitions were being consumed at a rate of over $1 billion per month, raising internal concerns about long-term readiness, especially amid tensions with China.

Despite the lack of tangible success, the White House suddenly ordered a “pause” in strikes on May 5. According to the NYT, this decision followed indirect talks via Oman. In return for halting the bombings, Ansar Allah reportedly agreed to stop targeting American-flagged ships, though they made no promises about Israeli-linked vessels. No binding agreement was signed.

General Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, had proposed a prolonged 8–10 month campaign to degrade Ansar Allah’s air defense systems and carry out targeted assassinations of key leaders—modeled on Israeli tactics in Lebanon. Saudi Arabia supported the plan and even provided a list of targets, while the UAE expressed skepticism, citing Ansar Allah’s resilience after years of Saudi-Emirati bombardment.

In the end, the extended campaign was squeezed into a 30-day window, and results failed to meet expectations. Pentagon planners grew uneasy about depleting advanced weapons stockpiles and the strategic strain it posed globally.