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.
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 America's 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 *