US Airstrikes in Yemen Linked to 153 Civilian Deaths in 2025 Reveal Deep Structural Failures in Regional Power Politics and Accountability
Original framing: “US strikes in Yemen killed 153 civilians in 2025, says Pentagon review” — Al Jazeera
The current conflict is the latest chapter in a historical continuum of external interventions dating back to the 19th‑century British protectorate and the 1962 civil war backed by Cold‑War superpowers. Each wave of foreign involvement has reshaped Yemen’s political map, creating a legacy of fragmented authority that fuels contemporary power vacuums. Recognising these patterns reveals how present policies repeat past mistakes.
The Pentagon’s admission of 153 civilian deaths in Yemen is a symptom of a deeper architecture of external arms flows, regional power games, and the marginalisation of Yemeni voices.
Historical precedents of foreign meddling, coupled with contemporary climate stressors, create a feedback loop that perpetuates violence and civilian vulnerability. By foregrounding indigenous tribal mediation, rigorous scientific verification, and the artistic narratives of loss, a multidimensional response can be crafted that holds powerful actors accountable while empowering local peace actors. Implementing international oversight, transparent reparations, and a Gulf‑Yemen diplomatic track offers a concrete pathway to break the cycle of impunity and to align security policy with humanitarian and ecological imperatives.