There is perhaps no other conflict in the world today that has been as senseless and disastrous to civilians as the civil war engulfing Yemen. The humanitarian situation in what was already the Arab world’s poorest country has been unforgiving to the millions of people who would like nothing more than for the violence to end. As a direct protagonist in the war, Washington can help end it by separating the United States from this tragedy completely — the sooner, the better.
Trump administration officials finally appear to grasp just how horrific and pointless Yemen’s war is. This week, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis urged all combatants in the conflict to stop killing each other and start fully cooperating with U.N.-facilitated peace negotiations. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s statement the same day calling on the Houthis to cease firing missiles into Saudi Arabia and for the Saudi and UAE-led coalition to stop bombing populated areas is a step in the right direction — albeit one that should have been taken years ago.
