While the US has continued its drone strikes throughout the Saudi war in Yemen, irrespective of their lack of special forces on the ground throughout that period. Most of those strikes have been fairly small, however.
Today, the Pentagon announced a much bigger attack on an al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) training camp in the mountains near al-Mukallah, saying they believe “dozens” were killed in the attack.
Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook claimed that the continued AQAP presence in Yemen poses a threat to “US persons,” insisting today’s attack proved the US commitment to fighting al-Qaeda around the world.
AQAP has been active since 2009, and during the Arab Spring held territory in several tribal areas. The Saudi focus on attacking Shi’ites in the ongoing war has allowed AQAP to seize more territory than ever before, including Mukallah, a major port city.
Let me see if I have this right. The Saudis secretly back al Queda in Yemen, the Houthi hate AQIY and were waging an effective war against them. The US backs the Saudi war against the Houthi while at the same time attacking AQIY. And the average Yemeni suffers without end.