Social media outcry: Corbyn, others condemn US-UK aggression on Yemen
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Social media users have labeled the US and the UK as "terrorists" for initiating fresh aggression in another part of West Asia amid an ongoing Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
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US Central Command forces, in coordination with the United Kingdom, and support from Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and Bahrain conducted joint strikes on Yemen. (US Central Command)
Following the joint US-UK aggression against Yemen overnight, prominent international figures, including Former UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, took to social media to voice their condemnation of the attack. The widespread expression of concern highlights the apprehension about a potential escalation leading to a full-blown war in West Asia.
Corbyn said in a post on X that the military attack on Yemen is "a reckless act of escalation that will only cause more death and suffering," adding that the lack of parliamentary consultation is decried as utterly "disgraceful".
Military action in Yemen by the UK & US government is a reckless act of escalation that will only cause more death and suffering.
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) January 12, 2024
It is utterly disgraceful that Parliament has not even been consulted.
When will we learn from our mistakes and realise that war is not the answer?
"When will we learn from our mistakes and realize that war is not the answer?" he questioned.
Committing an act of aggression against a country without parliamentary approval is a crime. Rishi Sunak should be held responsible for undermining the authority of the parliament.
— Narrative Nomad (@Idealist96) January 12, 2024
In the same context, other social media users from the UK considered engaging in aggression against a nation without parliamentary consent a "crime", urging accountability for UK's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for compromising the authority of the parliament.
Social media users even labeled the US and the UK as "terrorists" for initiating a fresh aggression in another part of West Asia amid an ongoing Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
“The terrorists have hit Yemen because Gaza alone wasn’t already enough,” said Jackson Hinkle, an American political commentator, in a post on Telegram.
All states have a duty under international law to act to stop genocide. Yemen did so by blocking shipping to the offending regime. The US is now bombing them for daring to interfere with the US-supported genocide in Gaza. There is your “rules-based order.” https://t.co/mC8EMrt2m1
— Craig Mokhiber (@CraigMokhiber) January 12, 2024
In the same context, Craig Mokhiber, an international human rights lawyer, said in a post on X: “All states have a duty under international law to act to stop genocide. Yemen did so by blocking shipping to the offending regime. The US is now bombing them for daring to interfere with the US-supported genocide in Gaza. There is your ‘rules-based order,'" in relation to one of the conditions set by the Biden administration.
'West's desperate attempt to support colonial zionism and racism'
Meanwhile, in the US, Ussama Makdisi, a US professor of History at Rice University, interpreted the US-UK attack as a desperate effort by the West to endorse "colonial Zionism and racism."
“The total bankruptcy of Western governments is on display in bombing Yemen, while Israel carries out genocide in Gaza. The Yemeni position is clear: they support Palestinian freedom; the US (UK) position is equally clear: they support colonial Zionism and racism,” Makdisi said.
Furthermore, Richard Medhurst, an independent British journalist, emphasized that the United States should have halted the war in Gaza if its genuine aim was to safeguard shipping in the Red Sea.
“Yemen fulfilled their duty under Art. 1 of the Genocide Convention to prevent and punish Israel for its genocide. If you don't like Yemen firing at commercial ships, then you shouldn't fire 2000lb bombs at Palestinians,” Medhurst said.
US journalist Dan Cohen criticized the US position on the Palestinian struggle, stating that "Israel" has been targeting fishing boats from Gaza for nearly two decades to undermine its fishing industry and keep it economically underdeveloped. Now, with Ansar Allah retaliating, the US invokes "freedom of navigation" to attack Yemen.
Israel has been shooting fishing boats from Gaza every day for almost 20 years to destroy its fishing industry and keep it economically de-developed. Now that the Houthis are giving Israel a taste of its own medicine, the U.S. invokes “freedom of navigation” to attack Yemen.… pic.twitter.com/sG9wD7E09n
— Dan Cohen (@dancohen3000) January 12, 2024
US politicians, including Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, expressed opposition to the US aggression, with Tlaib stating that Americans are weary of perpetual warfare.
.@POTUS is violating Article I of the Constitution by carrying out airstrikes in Yemen without congressional approval. The American people are tired of endless war.
— Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida) January 12, 2024
Biden “is violating Article I of the Constitution by carrying out airstrikes in Yemen without congressional approval. The American people are tired of endless war," she said.
US Representative Barbara Lee stated on X that the cycle of violence perpetuates itself, stressing the need for a ceasefire in Gaza "to prevent deadly, costly, catastrophic escalation of violence in the region."
This is why I called for a ceasefire early. This is why I voted against war in Iraq.
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) January 12, 2024
Violence only begets more violence. We need a ceasefire now to prevent deadly, costly, catastrophic escalation of violence in the region. https://t.co/acd6bwiRPF
US Congresswoman Val Hoyle took to X to state that the airstrikes carried out by the US and the UK were not authorized by Congress.
These airstrikes have NOT been authorized by Congress. The Constitution is clear: Congress has the sole authority to authorize military involvement in overseas conflicts. Every president must first come to Congress and ask for military authorization, regardless of party. https://t.co/Yo4QOWfbgr
— Val Hoyle (@RepValHoyle) January 11, 2024
Gregory Johnsen, the Associate Director of the Institute for Future Conflict, played down the significance of the US-UK aggression, noting that Ansar Allah has shown, through over two decades of fighting, the ability to endure substantial hardship, reorganize, and retaliate.
The Houthis have demonstrated over 20 years of fighting that they can absorb a significant amount of pain, regroup, and hit back.
— GregorydJohnsen (@gregorydjohnsen) January 12, 2024
Sharmine Narwani, a writer, analyst, and columnist based in Beirut, anticipated a robust counterattack targeting US and UK vessels in the waterways near Yemen.
“I honestly question whether the US or UK have carefully considered Yemen's potential responses to this act of war.”
US-UK aggression in Yemen sparks fears of regional war
The assault was viewed as a significant error that could trigger a full-blown war in West Asia by many social media users.
🚨🇾🇪 US MADE A BIG MISTAKE BOMBING YEMEN
— Haz Al-Din 🇷🇺 (@InfraHaz) January 12, 2024
If you think the new war in Yemen is going to be restricted to Yemen, think again.
It's now open season for US and British military bases in the region. The Yemenis are fearless and have nothing to lose.
They will easily set the entire… pic.twitter.com/AhXFovzSqA
“US made a big mistake bombing Yemen. If you think the new war in Yemen is going to be restricted to Yemen, think again. It's now open season for US and British military bases in the region,” a social media user said in a post on X.
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