US-Backed Saudi Forces 'Retake' Yemen, Again
"Saudi-backed forces retake Yemen’s Hadramout after airstrikes," chirps The New Arab, echoing a familiar tune. This framing conveniently sidesteps the whole 'Saudi-led military intervention' part—a delightful euphemism for a brutal, eight-year war that began in 2014, backed by U.S. weapons and intelligence. According to the UN and humanitarian organizations, this 'intervention' has created one of
the world's worst humanitarian crises, killing hundreds of thousands and pushing millions to the brink of famine. We saw this movie before: 'retaking' territory after bombing it into submission. While the mainstream cheers on Saudi 'successes,' one might question why such 'retaking' is even necessary if not for the initial campaign of destruction, funded in part by billions in U.S. arms sales. One
might also wonder, as the Houthis are the nominal target, why a proxy war has left a trail of pulverized infrastructure and countless civilian casualties across Yemen.