The U.S. administered 36 airstrikes in Yemen in 2018, according to the U.S. Central Command.
The strikes occurred from January to September to target al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and Islamic State efforts in Yemen in the Abyan, al Bayda, Hadramawt, Shabwah, and Zamakh governorates.
In total, the U.S. Central Command conducted 10 airstrikes in January, six in February, seven in March, and four in April, two in May, June, and July. Only one was conducted in August, and two in September. Strikes weren’t carried out from October to December.
American military involvement is increasingly stirring concern in Congress. Critics contend the efforts help prop up a Saudi regime with a dubious human rights record, in its fight against Shia-allied Houthi rebels in Yemen. A clutch of Democratic House members in late December pushed a resolution for debate of U.S. actions there, though the proposal died in the then-Republican controlled chamber.
The U.S. Central Command report is the latest to detail efforts the U.S. has taken to counter ISIS, despite comments from President Trump that ISIS had been “defeated” and that troops working to counter the group would be withdrawn from Syria.
On Friday, the U.S.-led coalition fighting ISIS in Iraq and Syria — Combined Joint Task Force–Operation Inherent Resolve —announced that 469 airstrikes consisting of 1,001 engagements were conducted in Syria between Dec. 16 and 29.
Similarly, nine airstrikes consisting of 14 engagements were carried out in Iraq during that same span of time.
