President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that the United States had conducted airstrikes against the Houthi movement in Yemen. This move came after the Houthi forces carried out drone and missile attacks on trade routes in the Red Sea, with the goal of pressuring Israel to lift its siege on Gaza. However, some members of Congress from both political parties argued that the President did not have constitutional authority to launch these attacks.
Biden defended the airstrikes, saying they were conducted in self-defense. While the United States has been involved in Yemen for several years, providing support to a Saudi-led coalition and targeting Al Qaeda, this marked the first open combat between U.S. forces and the Houthi movement. It was also the first airstrike in Yemen in nearly two years.
The Intercept reported that special U.S. Air Force intelligence teams had been ordered to Israel, indicating increased U.S. involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Additionally, the Iraqi government has called for the removal of U.S. military forces from Iraq following a drone strike that killed an Iraqi militia commander.
The United States has been involved in proxy wars throughout the Middle East, even as leaders have promised to pull U.S. forces out of the region. The Biden administration’s approach to foreign policy, including the decision to conduct airstrikes in Yemen and provide support to Israel, has raised concerns about the lack of a clear mandate from the American people and a lack of congressional authorization.