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Donald Trump's former defense secretary, Mark Esper, disagrees with his former boss' condemnation of new U.S. attacks on Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.
The armed forces of the U.S. and U.K., with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands, conducted joint strikes against Houthi-controlled areas on Thursday. It was done in response to "ongoing and escalating Houthi attacks" against commercial ships in the Red Sea, with intentions "aimed specifically to disrupt and degrade Houthi capabilities to threaten global trade and freedom of navigation in one of the world's most critical waterways," according to a senior Biden administration official.
Precision attacks targeted Houthi missile, radar and UAV capabilities and were performed as a retaliatory measure following more than 20 attacks by Houthis since November 20, in addition to the launching of nearly 20 drones and multiple missiles against U.S. ships on Tuesday. Allied nations supporting the Operation Prosperity Guardian fended off the attack, though multiple nations declined to directly participate for fear of conflict spiraling in the region.
"I think it's a bold action by President [Joe] Biden, I think it's overdue," Esper told CNN on Friday, adding that coalition support is integral. "Based on what we've seen so far, I think it's fairly comprehensive and should go a long way to deterring the task of degrading their capability to continue conducting these attacks against commercial ships in the Red Sea."
Newsweek reached out to Esper via email for further comment.
Biden and his administration have received some pushback, including from pro-Palestinian protesters, who have expressed sympathy towards Yemen. Biden has also faced criticism from different political factions due to the U.S. engagement in Gaza, as the administration has become more open and public about wanting a ceasefire to reduce civilian casualties.
When asked if the Biden administration should have first sought and gained approval from Congress, like Democrats including Representative Ro Khanna have suggested, Esper said transparency is important, but that this situation needed to be handled swiftly.
"Given this situation, I don't think we're in a declaration of war," said Esper, who served in the Trump administration between 2019 and 2020. "This is no different than the threats we've been facing throughout the region for years, and most particularly the last several months. ... The president did the right thing here, and I think for the most part Congress is going to support him for it."
Trump tied the newest attacks to the wars taking place in Ukraine and Gaza, and even as far back as the decades-long endeavor in Iraq.
"So, let me get this straight. We're dropping bombs all over the Middle East, AGAIN (where I defeated ISIS!), and our Secretary of Defence [Lloyd Austin], who just went missing for five days, is running the war from his laptop in a hospital room," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday.
Austin has faced harsh criticism and calls for termination, mostly from conservatives, after he was admitted to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, on January 1, for "complications following a recent elective medical procedure," but did not inform the White House until three days later.
"Remember, this is the same gang that "surrendered" in Afghanistan, where no one was held accountable or FIRED," Trump continued. "It was the most embarrassing 'moment' in the history of the United States. Now we have wars in Ukraine, Israel, and Yemen, but no 'war' on our Southern Border. Oh, that makes a lot of sense. Crooked Joe Biden is the worst President in the history of the United States!"
About the writer
Nick Mordowanec is a Newsweek investigative reporter based in Michigan. His focus includes U.S. and international politics and policies, immigration, ... Read more