25 Days to Aden: The Unknown Story of Arabian Elite Forces at War

(Hardback, Main)

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25 Days to Aden is the story of how in a week in 2015 the Gulf States pulled together a ten-nation coalition and the biggest military operation they ever launched unilaterally. It is an amazing account of Arab militaries doing what America would not, preventing Iran from taking a foothold on the Arabian Peninsula.

The risks for global security were huge: Iran already overshadowed one of the world's greatest maritime straits, at Hormuz, and now it sought to dominate the southern approaches to the Suez Canal as well. Aden had to hold out against the Houthis. The Gulf States were used to America stepping up at such moments, but the White House was partway through negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran. No help would come from Washington. Instead, for the first time, the Gulf States acted alone.

Told by an expert communicator on the region, it is a unique story. If the US is truly a global empire in decline, then the story may hold important pointers for a future of warfare driven by emergent powers in the gap left by the withdrawal of American influence.

Reviews

Michael Knights has written a fast-paced, thoroughly readable account of the opening days of the war in Yemen. This book has it all: the personalities, the maps, and extraordinary military detail and access. Read it and you'll know why the war has unfolded the way it has. -- Gregory D. Johnsen, author of The Last Refuge: Yemen, Al-Qaeda, and Americas War in Arabia
25 Days to Aden is the gripping and insightful story of a little-known modern war of great significance. The United Arab Emirates waged a remarkably successful campaign in southern Yemen from 2015 to 2019, demonstrating what is possible for an Arab military that pulls out all of the stops to be the best. Michael Knights has done a terrific job telling that story and explaining how and why it happened. -- Kenneth M. Pollack, author of Armies of Sand: The Past, Present and Future of Arab Military Effectiveness
25 Days to Aden offers an invaluable and gripping account of a woefully understudied war and provides a unique level of insight into the UAE's use of military power. -- Jack Watling, Senior Research Fellow, Land Warfare, Royal United Services Institute
A timely, detailed account of a battle that undoubtedly changed the course of history. A must-read for specialists in the military affairs of the region and those interested specifically in Yemen. -- Fernando Carvajal, armed groups and regional expert on the UN Security Council Panel of Experts of Yemen, 2017-2019
A valuable addition to the literature around Yemen's history and the ongoing war by someone who fully understands the region, its people and politics. -- Sadiq Shaban * Gulf News *

Author Bio

Dr Michael Knights is British-born, a Londoner and an American citizen.

Michael Knights is an unusual mixture of academic, conflict-zone practitioner, and policy advisor to Western governments. He received his PhD on Middle Eastern security for the Department of War Studies, King's College, London and has been an advisor to all the post-9/11 US administrations and a range of European and Arab governments. Michael is a sought-after commentator on Middle Eastern conflict, both by top-tier television, radio and print media.

He has over 25,000 followers on Twitter and regularly publishes widely-read analyses on Middle East security as a senior fellow with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He is the author of a number of books and monographs on the region.