Yemen: Yemen’s exceptional military capabilities forced Washington to retreat and reach an agreement to halt its aggression on Yemen, following an assessment of its failed and costly military strategy.

This conclusion was highlighted by numerous American and Israeli media outlets, which shed light on the failures and the heavy costs incurred by Washington in the face of Yemen’s unprecedented resilience and capabilities.

The New York Times confirmed that President Trump halted the military campaign against Yemen because it was costly and unsuccessful. The paper cited US officials who revealed that Yemeni defenses nearly struck advanced American F-16 and F-35 fighter jets, while Washington lost seven MQ-9 drones and two F-18 fighters, resulting in enormous costs.

The report pointed to the development of Yemen’s Air Defenses, stating that Washington failed to establish air superiority during the nearly two-month-long aggression, which included around 1,100 airstrikes. The US administration deemed this military involvement as "expensive and inconclusive" in the region.

The newspaper also reported that American strikes on Yemen depleted advanced munitions, raising regional concerns. Officials admitted underestimating Yemeni capabilities and failing to achieve operational objectives.

The Hill emphasized that the key to resolving the Yemen issue lies in a ceasefire in Gaza, noting that the US campaign yielded limited results at exorbitant costs. The newspaper pointed out that Yemen’s maritime and missile attacks are directly linked to the situation in Gaza and the collapse of the ceasefire, observing that Yemen halted its operations once a ceasefire was agreed upon.

The Hill added that Yemen has established a new equation, solidifying its presence as an indispensable regional player.

Similarly, Jacobin Magazine argued that the outcome of Trump’s decision to halt aggression on Yemen is no different than if he had never started the campaign. The magazine described the operation as a costly and futile adventure, asserting that Trump’s withdrawal was merely an attempt to extract himself and his country from a quagmire without achieving the main goal of deterring Yemeni attacks on Israel.

In the same context, Israeli journalist and Middle East affairs specialist Yoni Ben Menachem quoted Israeli security assessments indicating that Trump’s decision to halt aggression on Yemen stemmed from a series of tactical and strategic failures, rendering continued military intervention futile.

• These assessments attributed the American failure to several factors:
• The inability to weaken Yemen’s military strength or break its political will.
• Failure to form an Arab coalition after Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE refused to launch a ground invasion on Yemen.
• The erosion of Yemeni mercenary forces loyal to the UAE and Saudi Arabia, who declined to open new frontlines against Sana’a.

Most notably, the rise in Ansarullah’s popularity due to their support for Gaza, granting them regional legitimacy and transforming them into a symbol of resistance against the West and Israel.

The heavy US losses could not be ignored, with Yemen’s Armed Forces downing 22 advanced drones and two F-18 fighter jets.

Moreover, the US military leadership feared a direct attack on an aircraft carrier by Yemeni forces — a scenario considered a "historic humiliation" if it occurred.

Faced with this reality, Trump confronted two difficult options:

Escalation, including a costly and dangerous ground invasion.

Continuing ineffective airstrikes.

He chose to halt the aggression on Yemen, fearing entrapment in the Yemeni quagmire.