On March 15, 2025, U.S. Central Command launched a significant air operation targeting Houthi-controlled sites across Yemen, marking a notable escalation in the ongoing efforts to counter threats in the region.
F/A-18 Super Hornets from Truman hit Houthi sites in Yemen
CENTCOM Video screenshot
Fighter jets from the USS Harry S. Truman, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier stationed in the Red Sea, carried out precision strikes against multiple locations identified as critical to Houthi operations.
These strikes involved the deployment of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, advanced multirole aircraft known for their versatility and accuracy, aimed at neutralizing facilities used by the Iran-backed group to threaten U.S. naval forces and international shipping.
CENTCOM Forces Launch Large Scale Operation Against Iran-Backed Houthis in Yemen
On March 15, U.S. Central Command initiated a series of operations consisting of precision strikes against Iran-backed Houthi targets across Yemen to defend American interests, deter enemies, and… pic.twitter.com/u5yx8WneoG
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 15, 2025
The operation, initiated in the early hours of Yemen local time, was described by CENTCOM in a statement on X as a deliberate move to defend American interests and deter adversaries. By the following day, March 16, initial reports confirmed the involvement of these carrier-based jets, underscoring their pivotal role in the mission.
This development, occurring amidst heightened tensions in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, reflects a calculated response to the persistent challenges posed by Houthi activities in Yemen’s complex conflict landscape.
The roots of this operation trace back to a series of events that have unfolded over recent months and years, driven by the Houthis’ increasingly bold actions against maritime traffic and military assets. Since late 2023, the group has intensified its campaign in the Red Sea, targeting commercial vessels and U.S. warships with drones, missiles, and other weaponry.
These attacks, often launched from Houthi-controlled territories along Yemen’s western coast, have disrupted a vital artery of global trade, prompting responses from the United States and its allies.
The USS Harry S. Truman, deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in December 2024, has been a key asset in this theater, replacing earlier carrier groups like the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which departed the region in July 2024 after months of engagement.
The Truman, accompanied by its carrier strike group—including the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg and destroyers USS Stout and USS Jason Dunham—arrived with a clear mandate to support maritime security and stability.
By March 2025, the need for decisive action had grown evident, as Houthi capabilities continued to evolve with support from external actors, notably Iran, which has supplied advanced conventional weapons to the group.
The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, central to the March 15 operation, represents a cornerstone of U.S. naval aviation. Designed by Boeing, this twin-engine fighter jet, measuring approximately 60 feet in length with a wingspan of 44 feet, is equipped to handle a range of missions, from air-to-air combat to precision ground strikes.
Capable of reaching speeds exceeding 1,190 miles per hour, or roughly 1.8 times the speed of sound, the Super Hornet carries an array of weaponry, including guided munitions like the Joint Direct Attack Munition, commonly referred to as JDAM.
This system enhances standard bombs with satellite-guided tail kits, enabling strikes to be accurate within a few meters of their intended targets. On March 15, these aircraft took off from the Truman’s flight deck, a 4.5-acre platform that supports the launch and recovery of dozens of planes daily, and flew missions over Yemen, targeting sites identified through intelligence as Houthi weapon storage and command facilities.
The choice of the Super Hornet for this operation reflects its reliability in contested environments, where its advanced radar and electronic warfare systems allow it to evade detection and deliver payloads effectively.
Understanding the context of this strike requires a look at the broader dynamics in Yemen and the surrounding waterways. The Houthis, formally known as Ansar Allah, emerged as a significant force during Yemen’s civil war, which began in 2014 when they seized control of the capital, Sanaa, and much of the country’s northwest.
Backed by Iran, they have developed a sophisticated arsenal, including ballistic missiles and uncrewed aerial vehicles, often deployed against shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—a narrow passage connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, through which roughly 10 percent of global seaborne oil passes.
By early 2025, their attacks had reduced shipping traffic through this chokepoint by nearly two-thirds, forcing companies like Maersk to reroute vessels around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks and millions of dollars to transit costs.
The U.S. response, including operations like the one on March 15, builds on earlier efforts such as Operation Prosperity Guardian, a multinational coalition formed in late 2023 to protect maritime commerce. CENTCOM’s statement on March 15 emphasized that the strikes aimed to degrade Houthi capabilities, a goal echoed by Pentagon officials in prior briefings.
Details of the operation reveal a carefully coordinated effort reliant on the capabilities of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Video footage released by CENTCOM on X showed these jets launching from the Truman, their engines roaring as they ascended into the night sky over the Red Sea.
The targets, located in areas like Sanaa and along Yemen’s coast, included facilities housing missiles and drones, which the Houthis have used in recent assaults on U.S. and merchant vessels. A defense official, speaking anonymously to ABC News on March 16, noted that the strikes involved “air and naval assets,” with the Super Hornets playing a primary role in delivering ordnance.
While CENTCOM did not specify the exact munitions, the use of JDAMs aligns with standard practice for such missions, offering the precision needed to minimize collateral damage in densely populated areas like Sanaa.
The operation’s timing, shortly after a Houthi claim on X of targeting the Truman with cruise missiles and drones—an assertion CENTCOM did not address—suggests a preemptive intent to neutralize threats before they could escalate further.
The implications of this operation extend beyond the immediate destruction of Houthi assets, raising questions about its effectiveness and broader impact. The Super Hornets’ strikes likely disrupted specific capabilities, such as missile stockpiles or command nodes, but the Houthis have demonstrated resilience in the face of repeated U.S. and coalition actions.
In January 2025, for instance, CENTCOM conducted strikes on underground weapon storage sites, yet Houthi attacks persisted, albeit at a reduced pace.
The March 15 operation, involving dozens of targets as reported by Al-Masirah, a Houthi-run news outlet, may have inflicted significant damage—potentially measured in tons of destroyed munitions or square footage of demolished facilities—but the group’s ability to replenish supplies through Iranian support remains a challenge.
A statement from CENTCOM on March 15 highlighted the operation’s success in hitting intended targets, with no reported injuries to U.S. personnel, indicating the Super Hornets completed their missions without encountering effective resistance.
From a technological perspective, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet’s performance in this operation underscores its value to U.S. naval strategy. Each jet, costing approximately $56 million based on a 2023 Boeing contract for 17 Block III variants, carries advanced systems like the AN/APG-79 radar, which provides detailed targeting data over ranges exceeding 100 miles.
This capability, paired with the aircraft’s ability to operate from a carrier like the Truman—positioned roughly 500 miles from Yemen’s coast—allows rapid response to emerging threats.
The Truman itself, powered by two nuclear reactors, can sustain operations for weeks without refueling, supporting a carrier air wing of about 90 aircraft, including the Super Hornets of Carrier Air Wing 1.
On March 15, these jets likely flew sorties lasting several hours, covering distances of over 1,000 miles round-trip, a testament to their endurance and the logistical support provided by aerial refueling tankers like the KC-135 Stratotanker.
The operation’s ripple effects touch on regional security and international relations as well. The Red Sea, bordered by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Sudan, serves as a critical junction for trade between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Houthi disruptions have strained this corridor, prompting responses not only from the U.S. but also from allies like the United Kingdom, which participated in earlier joint strikes in January 2024. The March 15 action, however, appears to have been a unilateral U.S. effort, reflecting the Truman strike group’s self-sufficiency.
Houthi media claimed civilian casualties, including children, in Sanaa—a charge unverified by independent sources as of March 16—but such reports could complicate diplomatic perceptions of the strikes.
Meanwhile, Iran’s role in arming the Houthis, documented by the U.S. State Department in 2024 reports, adds a layer of tension to U.S.-Iran relations, though CENTCOM avoided framing the operation as a direct confrontation with Tehran.
Economically, the strikes’ impact on shipping remains uncertain. While the Super Hornets may have reduced Houthi’s capacity to launch immediate attacks, the long-term restoration of safe passage through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait depends on sustained pressure.
Data from the Washington Institute in December 2024 showed a 50 percent drop in ship transits due to Houthi threats, a trend that persisted into 2025. Companies rerouting vessels incur costs estimated at $1 million per trip, according to maritime analysts, a burden that could be eased if operations like March 15 achieve lasting deterrence.
However, the Houthis’ adaptability—shifting focus to Israel with missile strikes in late 2024—suggests that their strategic objectives may evolve beyond maritime targets, potentially diluting the strikes’ economic benefits.
Reflecting on the March 15 operation invites consideration of its place in the broader U.S. approach to Yemen and the Red Sea. The deployment of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets from the USS Harry S. Truman demonstrates a commitment to leveraging advanced technology to address asymmetric threats, a strategy honed over decades of conflict in the Middle East.
Yet, the operation’s success, while tactically evident in the destruction of Houthi assets, leaves open questions about strategic outcomes. Will the Houthis regroup, as they have after previous strikes, or will this mark a turning point in their operational capacity?
The Truman strike group’s continued presence in the region, capable of launching additional missions, suggests readiness for further action if needed. For now, the events of March 15, 2025, stand as a moment of precision and power, executed by a fleet of Super Hornets against a persistent adversary, with the world watching to see what follows.
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