- United States
- Conn.
- Letter
The US-led airstrikes against the Houthi militia in Yemen are counterproductive and risk escalating regional tensions. Rather than resorting to military action, the US and its allies should focus their efforts on pressing Israel to end its devastating invasion of Gaza and accept a ceasefire. This would remove the Houthis' rationale for disrupting commercial shipping in the Red Sea and defusing a major catalyst fueling the wider conflict. Years of bombing campaigns in Yemen by Saudi Arabia and its allies, backed by US support, have failed to dislodge the Houthis and only strengthened their resolve. Continuing down this path of military intervention is unlikely to yield different results. The US strikes risk drawing more militias into the fray and provoking further retaliation that could spiral into a regionwide war. Deescalating the Gaza crisis through diplomacy offers a more pragmatic path toward winding down the Houthi aggression and broader violence convulsing the Middle East. The targeting of US troops in Iraq and Syria by Iran-backed militias underscores how Washington's unconditional support for Israel's Gaza offensive is straining other crucial alliances. Stabilizing the region requires addressing the root causes driving the escalating violence, foremost Gaza, rather than fueling the cycle of retaliation through more bombing.
