On Oct. 30, during a Middle East security conference in Bahrain, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis implored the parties in Yemen’s civil war to stop shooting at one another and to start talking about peace. His comment, one of the strongest from a U.S. official on the conflict since it began more than three years ago, was followed shortly thereafter by a written statement from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calling for a nationwide ceasefire. “The time is now for the cessation of hostilities,” Pompeo wrote.

Days later, the combatants have not only ignored Washington’s calls — they have outright defied them.