GEOFF BENNETT: Overnight, the# U.S. launched what analysts## are describing as one of the largest# bombing missions in Yemen in years,## targeting what the U.S. says are Houthi# leaders and terrorist infrastructure.

The Trump administration's campaign against# Yemen has been going on for about two weeks now.## But the military action has been overshadowed# by the messages sent by the national security## officials in the commercial messaging app# Signal leading up to and after the strikes.

Nick Schifrin is here to update us.

Nick, it's great to see you.

So, looking at the policy, what is the# .. that different from the Biden administration?

NICK SCHIFRIN: Yes, the Trump administration## has launched many missile strikes and# jet and drone sorties to target what## the U.S. identifies as Houthi leaders, their air# defense, and weapons manufacturing and storage.

One of the differences with the Biden# administration's approach, according## to military officials, is delegating# authorities down to the commanders,## allowing them more leeway on the timing and# the targets.

And that is the other difference.## The Trump campaign has expanded the# targets to include Houthi leaders## and Houthi technical experts, what the# military would call the Houthi's network,## says retired Admiral Kevin Donegan, the# former commander of U.S. Navy Middle East.

ADM. KEVIN DONEGAN (RET.

), Former Commander,# U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet: And includes leadership,## but not in the sense that everyone with the last# name of Houthis would necessarily be targeted.

It would be leadership of those that are doing# training, teaching of those that have the## understanding of how to employ these weapons,# that put them together and build them.

And,## Nick, I talked about it being very# similar to what we did against## al-Qaida or ISIS or al-Qaida in the# Arabian Peninsula right here in Yemen.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Other former U.S. officials,# Geoff, have told me that the U.S. did not## have the intelligence going into this campaign to# target all of the Houthi leaders.

But as the bombs## start falling, those leaders start moving, they# start communicating, creating more intelligence.

As for the goal of this campaign, now,# remember how this started.

Houthi attacks## force commercial shipping lanes -- and# you see those lanes moving around the## world right there -- commercial# shippers to change their routes,## including all the way around Africa.

That# drove up costs.

That reduced exports.

It has been a longstanding U.S.# goal to keep shipping lanes open,## says Donegan, who spent decades in the military.

ADM. KEVIN DONEGAN (RET.

): We, as a# country, have had a stated objective## in our national security strategy for every# administration that I served under that said## it's in our national interests to keep the# sea lanes open for the flow of conflict.

GEOFF BENNETT: So, Nick,## do analysts believe that this effort can# work where previou.. NICK SCHIFRIN: It's a key question.# The Saudis launched seven years of## airstrikes against the Houthis.

The Biden# administration and the coalition launched## airstrikes against Houthis last year, as have# the Israelis.

The Houthis are still in Yemen.

The Trump administration airstrikes are# extensive.

Take a look at this map.

These## are the sites bombed in just the last four# days.

You see the yellow dots right there,## according to the independent# Live Universal Awareness Map.

The Houthis have admitted some 70 fatalities since# these airstrikes began.

But, Geoff, analysts say## that they can regroup unless the air campaign is# combined with a strategy to dislodge Houthis from## the land they control, says Mohammed Al-Basha, an# analyst who founded the independent Basha Report.

MOHAMMED AL-BASHA, Founder, Basha Report:# Airstrikes alone, without supporting## the ground forces, the Yemeni ground forces# right now with regional backing, the Houthis,## even if they're degraded to the highest# level possible airstrikes will do,## they will be able to regroup.

They have# been surviving airstrikes since 2004.

NICK SCHIFRIN: But officials# have made it clear, Geoff,## they are not trying to execute some kind# of regime change in this part of Ye..

So, Basha recommends a regional approach and the## U.S. military trying very hard# to avoid civilian casualties.

MOHAMMED AL-BASHA: They need to avoid targeting# civilian infrastructure.

They need to avoid## giving the Houthis any mean or tools to use# as propaganda that the airstrikes are killing## civilians.

And the most important thing after# that is regional powers and the anti-Houthi## coalition in Yemen need to sit down and figure# out what's the Yemen policy, what's the day after.

NICK SCHIFRIN: One of the aspects of this,# Geoff, Iran.

Iran sends the Houthis anti-ship## ballistic missiles, cruise missiles,# long-range drones.

The military sent## me a statement today -- quote -- "While# the Houthis still do maintain capability,## it's largely because of the nearly 10# years of support provided by Iran."

President Trump has made it clear# he will hold Iran responsible for## any Houthi attacks on U.S. ships# in the Red Sea.

And, tonight,## there are new U.S. heavy bombers on an island# in the Indian Ocean, a clear message to Iran.

GEOFF BENNETT: Yes, indeed.

Lastly, Nick, we mentioned those Si.. What do those messages# actually reveal substantively?

NICK SCHIFRIN: About this campaign?

Yes, Vice President Vance initially op.. more than the U.S.

He also was worried# about the Houthis targeting Saudi oil## facilities.

They also revealed debate about the# operation's goals.

The vice president made it## clear that President Trump wanted the goal# to be to send a message, to project power.

But Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth# said that the goal should strictly be## to restore navigation, prevent the# Houthis from attacking U.S. assets,## Geoff, and those are the goals that# the U.S. is using publicly right now.

GEOFF BENNETT: Nick Schifrin,# our thanks to you, as always.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Thank you.