Home / Foreign Policy

Yemen

The Republic of Yemen is an Arab country at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. One of the Arab world's poorest countries, Yemen has been caught up in a war since March 2015. The conflict is between forces loyal to President Abdrabnuh Mansour Hadi, whose government is recognized internationally, and people aligned with the Houthi rebel movement. Air strikes by a multinational coalition led by Saudi Arabia have been responsible for most of the 6,800 deaths and 35,000 injuries. (Source: BBC)

Trump's first military action as president was to authorize strikes by drones, something Obama was criticized for doing. Over the weekend following Trump's inauguration, 75 people were killed in fighting in Yemen, some in drone strikes Trump authorized. The United States did not take responsibility for the drone strikes, as had been standard policy. Drone strikes are controversial in part because little congressional oversight is required. Human rights activists also fear civilian casualties are underreported.

Timeline

2017.01.21Suspected US drone strikes kill three al-Qaeda suspects in Yemen. theguardian.com (See also Al-Qaeda)
2017.01.24Trump expected to sign several executive orders restricting immigration from Syria and six other Middle Eastern or African countries on Wednesday January 25. reuters.com (See also First 100 Days, Immigration, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, Jeff Sessions)
2017.01.29Trump’s Muslim travel bans will continue to be enforced by the The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), despite a New York judge placing a temporary stay on it being executed. independent.co.uk (See also First 100 Days, Department of Homeland Security, Muslim Immigration Ban, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia)
2017.01.30Donald Trump's first US military raid 'kills 30 civilians, including 10 women and children' independent.co.uk (See also First 100 Days)
2017.01.31Trump orders military raid in Yemen which leaves 30 civilians dead including 10 women and children. independent.co.uk (See also Department of Defense, First 100 Days)
2017.02.01One commando was killed and civilian casualties were also likely, raising doubts about the planning of the counterterrorism operation, the first authorized by President Trump. mobile.nytimes.com (See also First 100 Days)
2017.02.02The U.S. military said on Wednesday it was looking into whether more civilians were killed in a raid on al Qaeda in Yemen on the weekend, in the first operation authorized by Trump mobile.reuters.com (See also First 100 Days)
2017.02.02The White House says a deadly raid in Yemen was long planned in Washington. Not true, Trump administration owns the consequences say officials who served Obama, washingtonpost.com (See also First 100 Days)
2017.02.02Trump's team made Yemen raid decisions over dinner, suggesting a risky casual attitude in use of force. pbs.org (See also Foreign Policy, National Defense)
2017.02.02U.S. military officials say Trump approved his first covert counterterrorism operation without sufficient intelligence, ground support or adequate backup preparations, leading to civilian and U.S. deaths. mobile.reuters.com (See also Administration Errors, First 100 Days)
2017.02.02US military officials say Trump approved counterterrorism operation without sufficient intelligence or ground support as questions mount over botched Yemen raid. theguardian.com (See also First 100 Days)
The mission had been prepared under the Obama administration but it had not been approved.
2017.02.02US president describes a world ‘in trouble’ in speech at the National Prayer Breakfast, amid a growing number of disputes with foreign leaders theguardian.com (See also First 100 Days, Muslim Immigration Ban, Australia, Mexico, Johnson Amendment, Attacks on Civil Liberties, LGBTQIA, Affordable Care Act, Department of the Treasury, Russia, Iran, Mike Pence)
2017.02.03The Pentagon said this video shows a raid in Yemen was successful. It's a decade old. buzzfeed.com (See also Assaults on Facts, Administration Errors)
The video was initially heralded as proof that the raid in Yemen, in which a US military operator was killed along with several civilians, was a success.
2017.02.03Trump administration falsely claims that Obama planned Special Ops raid in Yemen that killed Yemeni civilians and a Navy SEAL. washingtonpost.com (See also Assaults on Facts)
2017.02.07Yemen withdraws permission for U.S. antiterror ground missions in a setback for Trump due to civilian casualties incurred in Trump's poorly vetted first raid. mobile.nytimes.com (See also First 100 Days)
2017.02.08The full details of botched US raid in Yemen, with all 25 names and ages of the civilians killed including nine children under 13. thebureauinvestigates.com (See also First 100 Days)
2017.02.08Yemen, angry with civilian casualties after raid, suspends permission for U.S. to run Special Operations ground missions against suspected terrorist groups there—a huge setback for Trump. nytimes.com (See also Administration Errors)
2017.02.09Trump attacks McCain for questioning success of deadly Yemen raid. washingtonpost.com (See also First 100 Days, Assaults on Government)
2017.02.26The father of Ryan Owens, the Navy SEAL killed in Trump's botched raid in Yemen, refuses to meet with Trump, says he wants answers: "Don’t hide behind my son’s death." miamiherald.com
2017.02.28In an interview on Fox, Trump appears to shift blame for a SEAL's death in the Yemen raid to generals, while still claiming it to be a success. thehill.com (See also First 100 Days)
2017.07.14A federal court judge agreed once again to partially halt the ban of certain foreign nationals from six predominantly Muslim countries on a nationwide basis - a direct rebuke to the government's attempt to limit the close family members allowed in the US - allowing "grandparents, grandchildren, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins of persons in the United States" to gain entry into the country. cnn.com (See also Legal Activity, Muslim Immigration Ban, Syria, Iran, Supreme Court)
2017.12.04A divided U.S. Supreme Court let Donald Trump’s travel ban take full effect while legal challenges go forward, allowing the US to bar or restrict entry by people from six mostly Muslim countries, even if they have a relationship with a U.S.-based person or institution. bloomberg.com (See also Muslim Immigration Ban, Muslims, Nationalism, Racism, Iran, Syria, Supreme Court)