US-Backed Allies Now Bombing Each Other in Yemen
Al-Monitor reports a delightful new layer of chaos: Gulf allies, armed to the teeth by Western democracies (chiefly the US), are now reportedly bombing each other in Yemen. The Southern Transitional Council (STC), backed by the UAE, accused Saudi Arabia of airstrikes, turning a complex proxy war into a family squabble. For years, the same US politicians who champion 'stability' in the region have
approved billions in arms sales to both Saudi Arabia and the UAE. In 2020 alone, the US approved a $23 billion arms deal with the UAE and continues to be Saudi Arabia's largest arms supplier, approving billions annually (Source: Defense Security Cooperation Agency). One might wonder: when you arm every faction in a region, is it really 'chaos' or just a very profitable business model? The only
constant is American-made weaponry being used to fuel yet another catastrophic conflict, ensuring a steady stream of defense contractor dividends back home. Who knew 'peace through strength' applied equally to funding both sides of a nascent intra-alliance conflict?