Staff Reports
After an astonishing year of lackluster attempts to rein in the Yemen-based Houthi rebels—who have been busy launching missiles like a child with a toy— the Biden administration decided to break out the big guns on Wednesday by targeting Houthi weapons depots. And by “big guns,” it means B-2 stealth bombers, flying all the way from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri to strike their targets with more precision than a blindfolded dart thrower at a local pub.
This particularly bold move from President Biden’s team was meant to send a strong message to Iran and other adversaries: the U.S. is capable of reaching your secret hideouts whenever it feels like it. The use of nuclear-capable B-2 bombers illustrates America’s military might, and it certainly seems that the Biden administration is taking its sweet time figuring this out—better late than never, right?
Most expensive weapons against the most poor nations. Who is paying for this?
Arabs ?? Because America does nothing free!!
U.S. B-2 stealth bombers conducted airstrikes targeting underground bunkers used by Yemen’s Houthis – US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin pic.twitter.com/cvD8cA2CUB
— Dr Tariq Tramboo (@tariqtramboo) October 17, 2024
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was all in on the announcement, emphasizing that the U.S. can pick and choose its targets at will. The chosen targets? Underground facilities packed with weapons that the Houthis have been using to wreak havoc on international shipping and potentially threaten U.S. personnel. Apparently, a group of rebels needs to get themselves a lesson in manners, or they’ll continue experiencing some seriously bad days courtesy of the U.S. Air Force.
Also worth noting is that this attack represents the first time the B-2 bombers were deployed against the Houthis. Talk about a dramatic debut! The decision apparently stems from the Houthis stepping up their attacks on shipping routes as a misguided display of solidarity with Hamas. One has to wonder if they took a moment to think about the consequences of their actions or if they’re just trying to see how many troublemakers can fit into one region.
According to reports, Austin reaffirmed that the mission wasn’t just a show but aimed to degrade the Houthis’ capabilities significantly. After all, no one wants a repeat of a missile barrage on civilian vessels or a resurgence of attacks in the region. The airstrikes required a collaborative effort from Air Force and Navy assets along with the heavy-hitting B-2s, creating quite the impressive army of aerial deterrents.
In a world where tensions are constantly rising, especially with Iran lurking in the shadows, the timing of this strike couldn’t be more pertinent. It’s almost as if the U.S. wanted to say, “Hey Iran, we’re watching, and we’ve got the arsenal to back it up.” The bureaucratic chess game continues, but this time at least someone in Washington has decided to take a serious shot at stopping the rogue antics of the Houthis before they escalate into something that could affect regional stability and, ultimately, global security. Who knew that a year into office, Biden would finally unleash the U.S. military’s capabilities in a show of strength?
