On 5th April 2025, US President Donald Trump bragged on his X account, the targeting and subsequent air strike on what he had alleged as the meeting of Houthi leaders preparing another round of attack on US war ships and Israeli interest over the waters of Yemen. It is unknown when was the strike nor exactly where the strike had occurred.
Almost immediately, the global netizens began to factcheck him and claimed that the alleged meeting of Houthi leaders were merely Yemeni tribesmen meeting up in celebration of Eid. Some of the netizens even backed up their points with photos of similar meetings between tribemen in the past.
An Egyptian X user posted images of an alleged Eid celebration as proof that the alleged target was actually tribesmen celebrating Eid, claiming that Turkish media had confirmed the US had targeted a tribe's Eid celebration. The X user however, did not provide links to the Turkish media claim, nor a search for such claims could be found.
Should the X user's claim is verified and that the gathering was merely tribesmen having their Eid celebration, the attack would be an omnious sign of things to come.
Blast from the Past
Back in 1993, the US were part of the United Nations mission in Mogadishu, Somalia. On 5th June 1993, Habr Gidr clan members and the Somali National Army (SNA) loyal to warlord Lt General Farrah Aidid attack a contingent of Pakistani peacekeepers who were inspecting the Radio Mogadishu for clandestine weapons storage, killin 24 Pakistani peacekeepers.
In retaliation, the US forces attached to the United Nation peacekeeping forces launched an air strike on a compound where Habr Gidr clan elders were meeting, alleging they were planning subsequent attacks. In reality, the clan elders met to discuss and pressure Aidid to stop antagonising the peacekeepers.
The attack, dubbed the Bloody Monday, not only did not deter Aidid, but had strengthened his position, culminating in the Battle of Mogadishu on 3rd and 4th October 1993, which had also involved two companies of Malaysian Battalion that were part of the peacekeeping forces. Details of the bloody raid can be watched on the Netflix documentary “Surviving Black Hawk Dowk”, episode 1.
While it is unlikely the Yemenis could retaliate against the US, today's US is unlike the US that we know even a year ago. US President Donald Trump had managed to antagonise nearly the whole world. It would not be a surprise if these countries would purposely close an eye at any retaliations, be it symmetric or assymetric in nature. Worst still, the attack or even the antagonistic nature of the US President may reinvigorate militant groups such as al Qaida and IS. Contrary to Western military doctrine, such groups thrive with the increased perception of injustice.
That said, we will know in a few more months.
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