Biden's Assertion of Peace Amid Ongoing Military Engagements in Yemen
- In a recent statement, President Biden claimed that the U.S. is not at war, despite ongoing military operations in Yemen and other regions.
- The U.S. continues to engage militarily in the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe, raising questions about the implications of such actions.
- Critics argue that this stance contradicts the realities of ongoing conflicts and escalates tensions in affected areas.
In a speech on Wednesday night, President Joe Biden proclaimed himself "the first president this century to report to the American people that the United States is not at war anywhere in the world." This assertion came just before the U.S. military announced airstrikes in Yemen, where U.S. Central Command confirmed the destruction of two Iranian-backed Houthi missiles. This marked a continuation of U.S. military involvement in the region, despite Biden's claims of having ended "the longest war in American history" with the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Biden's administration has faced scrutiny over its military actions, particularly following the first direct U.S. airstrikes against the Houthi movement in January, which were the first in two years. While Biden has celebrated the end of the Afghanistan conflict, older military engagements persist, including ongoing operations against the Islamic State group, which remains active despite claims of victory from both Biden and former President Donald Trump. In addition to conflicts in the Middle East, U.S. forces are engaged in Somalia, conducting airstrikes against the al-Shabab militant group to support the Somali government. U.S. Africa Command has reported multiple airstrikes this year, highlighting the ongoing military commitments that contradict Biden's assertion of peace. Furthermore, Biden emphasized continued support for Ukraine and Israel, pledging to rally international coalitions against Russian aggression. Critics argue that his administration's military actions and foreign policy commitments raise questions about the accuracy of his claims regarding U.S. military involvement globally.