The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Daily: The U.S. Bombing of Yemen and the Houthi Response
Mar 21, 2025
Gregory Johnsen, a non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute and a leading Yemen expert, discusses the U.S. bombing campaign in Yemen and its implications. He argues that the Houthis welcome conflict with America and Israel, seeking to leverage this for domestic support. The conversation delves into the complexities of U.S. military strategies, the challenges of foreign intervention, and the Houthi's strategic calculations amidst ongoing power struggles.
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US bombing of Yemen
- The Trump administration bombed Yemen in response to Houthi attacks on commercial shipping.
- They aim to deter future attacks and degrade Houthi capabilities.
US bombing targets
- The US bombed Houthi weapon sites, factories, and leaders' houses.
- This expansive targeting aims to break the Houthis' will, unlike the Biden administration's more limited approach.
Trump's rationale for bombing
- The Trump administration believes a harder-hitting approach is needed to influence the Houthis.
- This contrasts with the Biden administration's more restrained targeting, which proved ineffective.