The United States has recently begun an aggressive and sweeping bombing campaign against the Houthi rebels in Yemen under the directive of the current Trump administration. This operation exhibits an evident and stark diversion from the strategy followed by the Biden administration, which seemingly exhibited a more passive approach by limiting military strikes.
The Biden-led administration sought peace with a separatist group via its Arab allies, a stance that many consider naive and ineffective. The intensification of US military involvement comes in the wake of threats by the Iran-backed Houthis, who pledged to target ‘any Israeli vessel.’ This situation escalated following Israel’s steadfast refusal to permit aid into the disputed Gaza Strip.
The rebel group’s direct aggression towards Israel led to escalated tensions in the region and resurrected the international community’s focus on the Houthi attacks. An insistent question looms over the effectiveness of this bombing strategy against the formidable and relentless Houthis, who had previously engaged the U.S. Navy in a severe missile exchange, unseen since the harshness of World War II.
A wave of apprehension is escalating around the impact on civilians trapped in this unabating conflict. The Trump administration, unlike its precursor, fails to take into regard the potential civilian casualties as the strikes commenced over a week ago.
Despite the American military mum on any civilian losses, there is a growing apprehension amongst activists who suspect a significant number of non-combatant fatalities in regions where the Houthis hold dominion. The operation started on March 15, with American warships firing cruise missiles as fighter jets dropped a series of bombs over Houthi-controlled areas.
The Houthis claim these air raids have resulted in 57 civilian deaths. Between March 15-21, ACLED reported 56 encounters associated with the operation. The most recent campaign already boasts the record for the highest number of events in a single week since America first launched attacks on Yemen.
The Biden operation, in contrast, focused mainly on targeting mobile launch pads for missiles and drones and their corresponding infrastructure. However, under the new administration, there has been a noticeable shift towards increased action within urban areas.
The Biden administration’s requirement for express White House approval for each offensive strike has been replaced under the current reign where the U.S. military’s Central Command now has the authority to launch attacks as it deems fit. Unquestionably, this translated into more strikes, reflecting an aggressive approach.
Israel too, feeling the pinch of the constant Houthi missile and drone attacks, launched four rounds of airstrikes in 2024 and another one in January. The U.S. airstrikes have shown no signs of slowing down since their inception on March 15.
In the meantime, two major American warships, the USS Carl Vinson and the Truman, are poised to make their way into the Middle East. This strategic deployment will potentially provide the American military with a dual operational platform to launch aircraft.
The United States appears to be upping the ante in firepower with possible movements of B-2 stealth bombers being observed via radio transmissions and flight-tracking data. The prospective location of these aircraft seems to be Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
However, the future stability of Yemen remains shrouded in uncertainty. The Houthi rebels hold sway over the capital, Sanaa, and the northwestern part of the country in what appears to be an unshakeable grip.
Yemen’s government-in-exile struggles within a discordant alliance that, under the aimless leadership of the Biden administration, has proven incapable of regaining control from the rebels as demonstrated in the last four years.
Even Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who initiated a war against the Houthis a decade ago, seem to be advocating for peace talks. This is seen by many as an indication of desperation and impotence resulting from a conflict that hasn’t made any significant headway on the ground.
In conclusion, Biden’s muddled policies and lack of decisive action perpetuate the stalemate in Yemen. His administration’s flawed approach, heavily criticized for its ineffectiveness, paved the way for a quagmire that continues to plague the region.