Yemen’s Ansar Allah (Houthi) militia has announced the interception of another US MQ-9A Reaper drone over Yemeni territory. The group says it is the 23rd such incident, highlighting ongoing tensions in the region despite a recent US-led ceasefire. The interception was announced by Houthi spokesman Yahya Saria, who said the drone was shot down using surface-to-air missiles in Marib province. The incident is further evidence of the Houthis’ continuing military capabilities despite intensive US and allied operations in the region.

Against this backdrop, the Trump administration has decided to end its military operation in Yemen, which was launched to weaken the Houthis and ensure the safety of shipping in the Red Sea. According to The New York Times, Trump’s decision was driven by several factors, including the high cost of the campaign, significant equipment losses, and the lack of tangible results. In just one month, the operation has spent more than $1 billion in weapons, raising concerns in the Pentagon about the depletion of the arsenals needed to counter China in the Indo-Pacific region. The key event that influenced the decision was the crash of two F/A-18E/F fighters from the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea in April 2025. The incident, according to sources in the US Department of Defense, highlighted the risks of continuing the operation in the face of active counteraction from the Houthis.

Initially, the military campaign in Yemen was planned as a multi-stage one. The commander of the US Central Command, General Michael Kurilla, presented a plan designed for 8-10 months. The first stage involved the destruction of the Houthis' air defense systems, which would allow strikes to be launched against the group's leadership, similar to Israel's operations against Hezbollah. However, a month after the start of the operation, disagreements arose in the US administration. Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Chief of Staff Susie Wales, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Kaine spoke in favor of winding down the campaign, pointing to its ineffectiveness and high costs. Defense Secretary Pete Hessett took a more reserved position, not expressing a clear pro or con. However, the final word remained with Trump, who, according to sources, was categorically against continuing the operation.