President Donald Trump launched massive airstrikes on Yemen over the weekend, with a reported toll of 53 people killed and around 100 injured. The salvo marked a revival of a full-fledged unauthorized war by the U.S. against one of the poorest countries in the world.

Framed by the U.S. as a move to protect crucial Red Sea shipping lanes, the illegal escalation is a shift from the retaliatory strikes of the Biden administration to what appears to be the return to a full-scale regime change war. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was unequivocal in declaring that the U.S. would be playing policeman to the world.

“We’re doing the world a favor by getting rid of these guys and their ability to strike global shipping,” he said.

The escalation makes for awkward politics in America. Trump ran on ending wars, emphasizing his desire to avoid new wars in his inaugural address. In turn, his “America First” loyalists — whatever their motives — are cheering

© The Intercept