Dragonflies - Paul D. Richardson II

Harry Jones, an American Special Forces veteran, and Hakim al-Boulos, a Yemeni freedom fighter, are joined together to execute missions into Saudi Arabia to dissuade the Saudis from bombing civilian areas in Yemen. Harry must help Hakim manage his team as they are buffeted by fickle winds blowing in Washington DC. Winds that disrupt the original reason the NSA supported the interdiction mission utilizing Hakim's group. The vast empty spaces in both Yemen and Saudi Arabia are the background for action, while the urban areas of Chicago, Houston and Washington DC, along with forested New England, represent the perceived superiority of America. The novel is based on US and Saudi Arabian involvement in Yemen's civil war, which has killed thousands of people. The story isn't ideological in presentation but is strongly character driven, as people are reacting to situations beyond their control.