President Trump said this week that Houthi activists supported by Iran in Yemen had been “decimated by implacable strikes” which he ordered from March 15.
But this is not what the Pentagon and military officials say in private the Congress and the Allied countries.
In the briefs closed in recent days, Pentagon officials have recognized that there was only a limited success in destroying the vast arsenal, largely of missiles, drones and launchers, aid and allies of the Congress.
Officials have informed the evaluations of confidential damage indicate that the bombing is always heavier than the strikes carried out by the Biden administration, and much greater than the Ministry of Defense has described publicly.
But the Houthi fighters, known for their resilience, have strengthened many of their bunkers and other targeted sites, frustrating the ability of Americans to disrupt militia missile attacks against commercial ships in the Red Sea, according to three Congress and Allies, expressed on the state of anonymity to discuss operational materials.
In just three weeks, the Pentagon used $ 200 million in ammunition, in addition to immense operational costs and staff to deploy two aircraft carriers, B-2 bombers and additional fighter planes, as well as Patriot and Thaad air defenses in the Middle East, officials said.
Thank you for your patience while we check the access. If you are in reader mode, please leave and connect to your Times account, or subscribe to all time.
Thank you for your patience while we check the access.
Already subscribed? Connect.
Want all the time? Subscribe.