Pentagon officials clashed over timing of U.S. response to Houthi attacks in Yemen

Top Pentagon officials met in early 2025 to discuss possible U.S. military action against Houthi militants who had begun missile and drone attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, then commander of U.S. Central Command, pressed for swift strikes not only on the Houthis but also on Iran, which he said had long supplied the Yemeni group. In contrast, Joint Chiefs chairman General Charles Q. Brown Jr. urged a period of assessment before presenting options to the president.

"General, the time for assessments is over," Kurilla is reported to have said, prompting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to side with the more aggressive stance.

Other senior advisers, including Dan Caldwell and Alex Velez-Green, raised concerns that an extended campaign could deplete key U.S. munitions such as Tomahawk cruise missiles and Patriot interceptors. Those worries later resurfaced as the Trump administration conducted a 51-day bombing campaign, Operation Rough Rider, in March 2025.

Rough Rider targeted more than 1,000 sites, including Houthi command structures and weapons depots, but human-rights groups reported significant civilian casualties. The Pentagon’s spokesperson, Kingsley Wilson, described the operation as having "decisive success" and said it reduced threats to international shipping lanes. Critics within the Pentagon, however, questioned whether the campaign had clear, achievable objectives.

The operation ended abruptly in May 2025 after a cease-fire brokered by Oman. President Trump declared victory, stating the Houthis had agreed to stop firing at ships. The cease-fire was followed by a rapid decline in U.S. engagement in Yemen, and the Houthi group continued to launch attacks on Saudi infrastructure.

The internal debate highlighted divergent views within the U.S. defense establishment about the timing, scope, and strategic goals of military action against the Houthis and their Iranian backers.