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The Conversation
The Conversation
Charles Walldorf, Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Wake Forest University

In Yemen, Trump risks falling into an ‘airpower trap’ that has drawn past US presidents into costly wars

A Yemeni soldier inspects the damage reportedly caused by U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, on April 27, 2025. AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman

In the first 100 days of his second term, U.S. President Donald Trump has shown a willingness to lean on airpower when his administration decides that military force is necessary abroad.

So far, the second Trump administration has launched limited airstrikes in Somalia and carried out a weekslong air campaign against the Iranian-aligned Houthis who rule most of Yemen. The president has also threatened direct strikes against Iran itself should talks on a new nuclear deal collapse.

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