Trump Praises Houthi 'Bravery' While Announcing Truce
U.S. leader said his goal was to 'annihilate' the group
U.S. President Donald Trump last week, when announcing a truce with the Yemeni Houthis, told reporters at the White House that the fighters showed a level of bravery given the extent of military power they were up against.
“You know, we hit them very hard. They had a great capacity to withstand punishment. They took tremendous punishment. You can say there’s a lot of bravery there. It was amazing what they took. But we honor their commitment and their word,” Trump said.
Trump ordered airstrikes on the Houthis in Yemen on 15 March over the group’s renewed campaign in the Red Sea targeting ships after the Israelis imposed a brutal humanitarian aid blockade in Gaza after Hamas refused new ceasefire terms from Israel.
Trump posted at the time: “The Houthi thugs have fired missiles at U.S. aircraft, and targeted our Troops and Allies. These relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and World Economy many BILLIONS of Dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk.”
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The Operation Rough Rider campaign cost American taxpayers over $1 billion and did not seem to yield any tangible results.
April Longley Alley of the International Crisis Group, wrote in Foreign Affairs that it was unclear what Trump achieved because, when the operation started, “the Houthis were explicitly targeting Israel as well as Israeli-linked ships – though not U.S. ships – and saying they would continue to do so until Israel ends its war in Gaza.”
“Since the outset of the U.S. campaign, Houthi leaders have made clear that if Washington stopped the bombing, they would stop attacking U.S. ships, but their attacks on Israel would continue. After Trump announced the May 6 agreement, the Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam reiterated this position,” she noted.
The Yemeni Houthis, who are the only military force in the world fighting for the Gazans being butchered by Israel.