Yesterday, the United States Navy
vessel Nitze launched a series of cruise missile attacks on radar sites
in Southern Yemen in response to reported attacks on American ships in the
area. The attack underscores American involvement in Yemen, an immensely
complex and historically under-reported conflict area. Unfortunately, American
action in Yemen is likely to only increase extremist activity in the area,
leading to a weaker Yemeni state and a greater chance of incubation for non-state
armed groups and their affiliates. So why is America involved at all? And what
is the conflict in Yemen really about?
