Yemen Under Siege: A Stark Reflection of Afghanistan and Iraq Wars During Trump’s Era

The United States launched a series of air raids on Yemen, escalating tensions in the region. The attacks, which began on Saturday night and continued into Sunday morning, were ordered by former President Donald Trump. The justification for these actions was based on claims that Yemen’s Ansarallah forces threatened to target ships associated with Israel in the Red Sea. This was purportedly in response to Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, a violation of the ceasefire agreement established on January 19.

As Trump returns to the political spotlight, some observers had hoped he would approach foreign policy with a more experienced and shrewd mindset compared to his first term. However, early actions indicate a continued pattern of recklessness. His recent remarks include labeling Canada as America’s 51st state, threatening military action to capture Greenland, and suggesting the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza.

Trump’s unfiltered comments and impulsive decisions have raised concerns. The recent airstrikes on Yemen were unexpected and highlight the ongoing conflict that began in March 2015, backed by a Saudi-led coalition under the Obama administration. Over the years, the Yemeni people have shown remarkable resilience and military strength despite facing significant adversities.

Key points regarding the conflict in Yemen include:

• The war started in March 2015 and was initially supported by the United States.
• Yemenis have transformed wedding celebrations into mourning processions due to the ongoing violence.
• Despite overwhelming odds, they have not been subdued by military actions.

During his first term, Trump criticized his predecessors for engaging in what he termed “endless wars” in the Middle East, specifically referencing the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Yet, after two decades of involvement in Afghanistan, the U.S. was forced to withdraw in a chaotic manner, leaving behind substantial military equipment. Trump himself remarked, “We left billions, tens of billions of dollars’ worth of equipment behind” in Afghanistan, although it’s crucial to note that the withdrawal agreement was established during his administration.

Trump’s reflections on the U.S. military presence in the Middle East are mixed with a sense of denial about the consequences of these wars. The outcomes of the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts were disastrous, with the Taliban regaining power and no weapons of mass destruction ever found in Iraq, which had been the rationale for the invasion. The primary result of these interventions has been the proliferation of terrorism.

America’s military actions, aimed at dismantling al-Qaeda, led to the emergence of even more violent groups such as ISIS. Amidst the haunting memories of past wars, Trump seems to believe that the U.S. can subdue the Yemeni forces through continued attacks. If this approach persists, history may repeat itself, forcing the U.S. to concede to Yemeni demands, similar to the agreement reached with the Taliban.

The recent Yemeni actions targeting Israeli-affiliated ships were a response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. They have threatened to escalate military actions if the blockade continues. With a fragile ceasefire currently in place, the situation remains precarious.

Nabeel Khoury, a former U.S. diplomat, expressed skepticism regarding Trump’s military strategy. He stated, “For our president who came in wanting to avoid war and wanting to be a man of peace, he’s going about it the wrong way. There are many paths that can be used before you resort to war.”

Khoury pointed out the futility of trying to subdue the Yemeni population through airstrikes, given their previous experiences with bombardment. He remarked, “If you think that Hamas, living and fighting on a very small piece of land, totally surrounded by land, air and sea, and yet, 17 months of bombardment by the Israelis did not get rid of them, the Houthis live in a much more rugged space. It would be virtually impossible to eradicate them.”

He emphasized that neither military nor political strategies currently in play make sense, stating, “There is no military logic to what’s happening, and there is no political logic either.”

Ultimately, the resolution of this conflict lies in addressing the root cause: the Israeli occupation of Palestinian and Arab lands, which perpetuates instability in the region. Trump must confront the reality of the disastrous consequences of U.S. military interventions, as well as the ongoing violence against Gazans, which serves as a stark reminder of the need for a peaceful resolution.