May 21, 2025

Operation Rough Rider

Operation Rough Rider: The U.S. Military’s High-Stakes Showdown with the Houthis in the Red Sea

In early 2025, the United States launched Operation Rough Rider, a wide-ranging military campaign aimed at countering the growing threat posed by Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen. These insurgents, designated as a terrorist organization by several Western governments, had escalated their attacks on civilian shipping vessels transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden — one of the world’s most vital maritime trade routes. With over 12% of global trade passing through this region, the implications were far-reaching, both economically and geopolitically.

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As a military veteran or enthusiast, you might already appreciate the complexity of asymmetric warfare. Operation Rough Rider is a vivid, real-world example of how conventional forces adapt to unconventional foes — and the results thus far have offered both critical victories and sobering lessons.

The Red Sea Flashpoint: Background on the Crisis

To understand the urgency behind Operation Rough Rider, we must revisit late 2023. The Houthis, operating from Northern Yemen, began targeting international merchant vessels, claiming their actions were in solidarity with Palestinians during the Israel–Hamas conflict. Though many of the ships had no connection to Israel, these attacks were designed to disrupt Western-aligned supply chains and assert Houthi influence over the region.

Backed and supplied by Iran, the Houthis began deploying advanced drone technology, ballistic missiles, and even sea mines. Their reach extended dangerously far, with missiles launched from Yemen hitting vessels over 100 miles offshore. Insurance premiums for shipping in the region skyrocketed, and global supply chains — already reeling from years of COVID-related disruptions — suffered further blows.

The U.S., along with the U.K., France, and other allies, attempted diplomatic pressure and naval escort operations under Operation Prosperity Guardian, but the attacks continued. The decision was made: diplomacy alone wouldn’t suffice. On March 15, 2025, Operation Rough Rider began.

Mission Objectives and Initial Strikes

The core mission was clear: neutralize the Houthi military infrastructure responsible for launching attacks on international shipping and weaken their capability to threaten U.S. and allied forces in the region.

In the opening salvo, U.S. Navy destroyers and submarines launched Tomahawk cruise missiles at radar installations, missile storage depots, and drone launch sites. F/A-18 Super Hornets, launched from the USS Harry S. Truman and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, conducted precision airstrikes against underground bunkers and known command-and-control nodes.

Coalition partners including the United Kingdom, France, and Jordan provided intelligence, surveillance, and air-refueling support. The Royal Air Force struck several coastal targets, and U.S. MQ-9 Reapers loitered over Houthi-held territory, identifying mobile launchers and assisting in real-time targeting.

Within the first 45 days, over 1,000 individual targets were hit.

The Houthi Response: Adaptation and Escalation

While the opening phase of Operation Rough Rider delivered significant damage, the Houthis demonstrated resilience. They employed a classic insurgent tactic: dispersal and deception.

Mobile Launch Units: The Houthis quickly shifted to using smaller, mobile launch platforms hidden in urban areas.
Civilians as Cover: Their integration into civilian infrastructure made targeting more difficult without risking collateral damage.
Counter-drone Tactics: They began jamming and shooting down U.S. drones at a rate that surprised planners — including multiple MQ-9 Reapers.

This level of operational agility forced CENTCOM commanders to reassess engagement rules and invest more in real-time ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) assets.

Setbacks and the Human Cost

Though tactically successful, the operation was not without serious consequences. The USS Harry S. Truman lost three aircraft in unrelated onboard incidents — two in mishandled deck operations and one in a tragic friendly fire accident during a confused engagement zone.

Additionally, Houthi-launched anti-ship missiles damaged the U.S.-flagged tanker Mercy Star, resulting in minor injuries to crew members and increased scrutiny on force protection measures.

Perhaps most telling were the logistical warnings from senior Navy officials: we’re running low on interceptors and missiles. Rear Admiral Sean O'Rourke testified to Congress that prolonged high-intensity operations in areas like the Red Sea could outpace existing U.S. munitions stockpiles within months.

This wasn't just a warning about Yemen — it was a shot across the bow for future operations against near-peer adversaries.

A Fragile Ceasefire — And Lingering Threats

On May 6, 2025, a ceasefire agreement was brokered through Omani and Swiss intermediaries. The Houthis agreed to suspend attacks on commercial vessels in exchange for limited humanitarian aid and a suspension of strikes by coalition forces.

However, this was no clean resolution. The Houthis maintained their capacity and continued launching missiles toward Israel, testing the boundaries of the agreement. Most observers view the ceasefire as a tactical pause, not a permanent peace.

Strategic Lessons for the U.S. Military

Operation Rough Rider has become a case study for multiple ongoing strategic conversations within the Pentagon and allied defense circles:

Asymmetric Warfare Will Define the Next Decade
The Houthi threat reinforced the fact that small, non-state actors with foreign backing can cripple global trade and challenge modern militaries through agility and unpredictability.
The Munitions Supply Crisis Is Real
The U.S. has already started reassessing its wartime stockpiles, especially interceptors for Navy ships (like SM-2 and ESSM), which are being consumed faster than production allows.
Unmanned Systems Are Vulnerable
Drones may dominate the future battlefield, but they’re also vulnerable to electronic warfare, kinetic shoot-downs, and signal interference — as demonstrated by the Houthis’ surprising counter-drone success.
Coalition Warfare Still Matters
Despite talk of American overreach, Operation Rough Rider saw valuable contributions from multiple nations — an encouraging sign that NATO-style cooperation still has teeth outside Europe.

Why This Matters for Military Supporters and Veterans

You may never serve in Yemen, and you likely won’t be asked to fly air cover over the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait — but as a member of the military community, Operation Rough Rider should resonate with you.

It’s a modern reminder of the chaos we often train for but rarely face. It reminds us why readiness matters, why logistics win wars, and why mission success is more than just airstrikes and briefings — it’s about adaptation under fire.

At Challenge Coin Nation, we honor the spirit of adaptability, grit, and mission-focus that Operation Rough Rider represents. Even though we’re not a news outlet, we believe our military community should stay informed and engaged in current events that shape policy, strategy, and culture.

Final Thought

Whether you’re on active duty, in the Guard, a retired vet, or just someone who supports our men and women in uniform — Operation Rough Rider isn’t just another faraway campaign. It’s the front line of a new era of conflict, where the enemy doesn’t always wear a uniform, and the battlefield includes sea lanes, satellites, and signal jamming as much as rifles and aircraft.

We’ll keep watching.

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