AhlulBayt News Agency: President Donald Trump has decided to halt the US military campaign against Yemen’s Ansarullah movement, citing escalating operational costs and growing risks to American forces and military assets. The decision follows weeks of intense airstrikes and rising concerns within the Pentagon.
According to US officials, financial and strategic factors played a critical role in prompting the ceasefire. The campaign, known as Operation Rough Rider, began on March 15 and involved strikes on more than 1,000 targets in Yemen. In its first month alone, the operation cost the US approximately $1 billion.
Despite the scale of the offensive, US Central Command (CENTCOM) measured success by the volume of bombs dropped, while intelligence officials warned that Ansarullah forces could still regroup despite the damage sustained.
Further complicating matters were near-catastrophic incidents involving US aircraft. Ansarullah reportedly came close to downing several American F-16 and F-35 fighter jets. Additionally, two jets launched from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier crashed into the Red Sea, injuring a crew member.
The operation also significantly depleted the US stockpile of precision-guided munitions, raising alarm within the Pentagon. Officials expressed concern over the country’s readiness should a major conflict erupt elsewhere, particularly with China over Taiwan.
Tensions escalated further last week when a ballistic missile fired by Ansarullah landed near Ben-Gurion Airport, injuring several individuals. In response, Israel, in coordination with the US, carried out joint strikes on Ansarullah positions in Yemen.
Following these developments, Trump announced that the US would suspend its airstrikes on Ansarullah, stating that the group had agreed to cease strikes on US naval vessels. However, Ansarullah clarified that the agreement does not extend to Israel, emphasizing that their operations against the occupying entity remain ongoing.
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