Yemen: In a significant and explicit move, the United States has announced the formation of a new "Political Components Bloc" composed of local mercenaries in Yemen, showcasing the depth of US control over these groups. This latest escalation appears aimed at intensifying pressure on the Yemeni people and their national authorities, with the ultimate objective of halting military support for Gaza and Lebanon.

According to a statement from the US Embassy, the bloc—comprising nearly 22 groups aligned with the coalition against Yemen—was formed under direct US sponsorship through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI), organizations reportedly linked to US intelligence. The involvement of these agencies underscores the US’s backing of the bloc, despite recent revelations from confessions made by members of a major espionage cell tied to UAE and Israeli intelligence.

The timing of this announcement is not coincidental. It aligns with clear US-Israeli maneuvers aimed at reigniting conflict in Yemen, following failed attempts to stop Yemeni support for Gaza and Lebanon through direct aggression and other pressures. The bloc’s explicit purpose, as noted in its founding statement, is to oppose Sana'a and Yemen's national authorities, contradicting the US Embassy's claims that it was formed to "promote peace in Yemen." Ambassador Stephen Fagin was reportedly instrumental in establishing this new bloc.

This move reveals the extent of the US's influence over mercenary factions in Yemen, despite their internal divisions. Even the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council, which initially opposed joining the bloc, eventually aligned with its objectives under US pressure, revealing the lack of autonomy left for any faction involved.

The US-led creation of a Yemeni political bloc exposes the reality of its direct involvement in Yemen's ongoing conflict since 2015 and challenges the narrative that obscures the true role of these mercenaries and their objectives.

This escalatory approach aims to pressure Sana'a to cease its support for Gaza and Lebanon, highlighting the limitations of US options after the failure of other measures, including military action and economic sanctions. Even if Saudi and Emirati regimes are drawn back into the conflict, the likelihood of significant impact remains low, as the leader of the revolution, Sayyed Abdulmalik Badr al-Din al-Houthi, has signaled Yemen's readiness for any level of escalation.

Recent statements by US officials further underscore this reality. Last week, former US Central Command leader Frank McKenzie, in an interview with Middle East Eye, acknowledged that Yemenis had "won" and that the US military had "failed." This admission underscores the broader view among American military leaders that prospects for US success in Yemen are limited, with Sana'a having already set the terms of its resistance.

Translated by Almasirah English website