Saudi Aggression in Yemen has Officially Failed ~ Yemen Updates: 8 April 2015

Saudi Aggression in Yemen has Officially Failed

Against the background of the ongoing armed conflict in Yemen and a massive bombing campaign that is being carried out by Saudi Arabia’s air force, one can notice signs that all parties involved might be soon in pursuit of a political settlement of the conflict. Two full weeks of air raids have shown that the Arab coalition is helpless to do anything about the Houthis without boots on the ground, yet the land operation is too big a gamble for the Arab countries to undertake. It turned out that only a couple of states, namely Egypt and Saudi Arabia were willing to provide troops for an assault on Yemen, but close combat skirmishes in mountainous terrain, followed by guerrilla warfare will lead to high casualty numbers among the invaders, eventually leading to a military defeat of the coalition or even a possible coup d’etat in the above mentioned states, with the stability of the Egyptian and Saudi regimes already seriously weakened for a number of reasons.

Meanwhile, the Houthis are confidently moving forward, taking control of new territory, including in the south. They now hold all major cities across the country, including the two most crucial seaports – Aden and Hodeidah. This makes a possible sea landing operation extremely challenging for the coalition forces, driving Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Arab supporters of Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi into a tight corner, since they are now unable to create a beachhead which would have allowed them to name a temporary capital with some sort of “legitimate government” in charge. It’s curious that a few days ago Riyadh’s media was busy spreading the rumor that the Saudi military would get the assistance of US Marines in a future beach landing operation. This sounds like a complete hoax since in the present circumstances, US President Barack Obama would never dare send American soldiers to certain death.

But despite all the success that the Houthis have enjoyed on the battlefield, they do not reject the possibility of peaceful negotiations, knowing that sooner or later they will have to engage in a dialogue with foreign actors in order to legitimize their power. Moreover, they’ve even declared their willingness to begin political dialogue within Yemen, but there’s a condition that must be fulfilled – Mansur Hadi will not return as the head of the country. He fled Yemen and brought Saudi forces back with him, this fact makes him a traitor against the entire country in the eyes of the Houthis. The leaders of the Houthis are not prepared to easily forgive the fact that they followed all conditions that he had put forward before the war, while the negotiations were observed by the United Nations Special Adviser on Yemen, Jamal Benomar, yet war against them ensued regardless.

At this stage the best deal Saudi Arabia can possibly get is a cease-fire agreement with the Houthis. Information leaks suggest that the Shia rebels may agree to withdraw their forces from Aden and some southern provinces, where they will be replaced by the regular Yemeni armed forces still loyal to the Houthis. Then it will be possible to resume the national dialogue between all political forces in Yemen that was interrupted by the war, under the watchful eye of the UN Special Adviser on Yemen Jamal Benomar. But first the parties need to choose a place for such negotiations. It is clear that the Houthis would rather hold discussions outside the region, for instance in Moscow, who opposed the aggression against Yemen. Although there’s little doubt that the Saudis and the Americans will insist on some Arab or European capital. In any case, it’s clear that the Shia rebels are going to engage in peace talks only when Saudi Arabia ceases its air strikes. A Houthi official, Saleh al-Samad, stated on April 6 that this group has no other condition for negotiations except for the cessation of aggression.

In addition, the problem of Al Qaeda’s growing influence in Yemen, now strengthened by Saudi bombings, is yet to be addressed. Radical forces were able to capture the large port city of Al Mukalla in the south. They released all sorts of terrorists from local prisons, some of them registered by the US as the most dangerous individuals in the region. Moreover, this town has now been proclaimed the capital of the Islamic State in Arabia.

The only question is would Riyadh be willing to pursue a peaceful settlement of the conflict. The number of air strikes is growing daily though no real damage has been inflicted on the Houthis. Since the launch of the military operation on March 26, more than 500 people have been killed, but the better part of the casualties were civilians. Saudi pilots managed to destroy several warehouses, command posts, a number of Scud missiles launch pads along with several outdated anti-air vehicles and combat aircraft. But this cannot affect the combat capabilities of the Houthis and the military troops that remain loyal to their ally, Ali Abdullah Salih.

This is what makes the new Saudi king Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud particularly angry, he thinks of himself as the new leader on a pan-Arab scale, on par with Gamal Abdel Nasser or Saddam Hussein. Meanwhile, the situation in the kingdom is turning from bad to worse. Local tribes are dissatisfied with the war and the decline in revenues from falling oil prices. Therefore, it’s not a coincidence that the Saudis have started bringing prices back up. In the meantime, a case of Shia dissonance against police units has occurred in the Eastern Province of the KSA, leading to serious casualties. Experts are stressing the possibility of mass demonstrations by the Shia population of the KSA, who are willing to show solidarity with the Houthis. The situation remains rather tense in Bahrain as well. But the sparks may fly first on the Saudi-Yemen border, inhabited by Yemeni tribes who have fought Riyadh’s officials before.

So the conflict in Yemen begins to take a new dimension, stretching far beyond its borders. And it is clear that as long as the Houthis are on top while the coalition is basically doing nothing, the Arabs may soon be forced to return to peaceful negotiations in Yemen on the basis of a UN resolutions.

Viktor Titov, Ph.D, is a political commentator on the Middle East, exclusively for the online journal “New Eastern Outlook”.

First appeared:http://journal-neo.org/2015/04/08/rus-agressiya-saudovskoj-aravii-protiv-jemena-ne-daet-rezul-tatov/

Saudi government perpetrated crimes against humanity in Yemen

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said on Wednesday that Saudi government perpetrated crimes against humanity in Yemen by indiscriminate bombardment of the civilian targets killing several hundred innocent civilians. ‘We are witnesses to the occurrence of disputes in the Islamic society today. What is really going on (in the Muslim World)? What is this mess that the Saudis have made in…

Zionist Saudi Regime Releasing Al-Qaeda Prisoners for Terrorist Mission in Yemen

Saudi Arabia has released large numbers of Al-Qaeda prisoners from its jails and sent them to the Yemeni border province of Hazar al-Mout to fight against the army and popular forces of the neighboring country, an informed source disclosed on Wednesday. “The Al Saud regime has freed the Al-Qaeda prisoners held in its prison and also in Yemeni prisons and dispatched…

Commander: Yemeni Army, Ansarullah Planning to Arm Tribes against Saudi Arabia

Senior Yemeni commanders announced on Wednesday that the army and Ansarullah fighters are planning to arm the country’s tribesmen against the Saudi-led aggression. “The Yemeni army and Ansarullah plan to arm tribesmen in a bid to help the army and popular committees in their ongoing battle against the Saudi aggression,” Yemeni Army Commander Major General Javad Al-Razi told FNA on Wednesday. The…

Senior Iranian Official Warns S. Arabia to Stop Yemen War or Wait for Response

Iran’s Judiciary Chief Sadeq Amoli Larijani warned Saudi Arabia to stop aggression against Yemen or wait for dire consequences. “Saudi Arabia’s aggression against Yemen is a very regrettable event in the Muslim world which should end as soon as possible through talks and negotiations; otherwise, this blatant aggression of a government which claims (to be leading) Islam, against the Muslim people…

Iran FM starts tour of Oman, Pakistan amid Yemen crisis

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has started his tour of Oman and Pakistan to hold talks with high-ranking officials of the two countries on regional developments, including the Yemeni crisis. According to the reports, heading a delegation, Zarif arrived at Muscat International Airport on Wednesday and was officially welcomed by his Omani counterpart Youssef bin Alawi bin Abdullah. During his…

Saudi’s attack on Yemen launched with West green light: Iranian Top Commander

Iranian Armed Forces’ Chief of Staff Major General Hassan Firouzabadi on Saturday said that Saudi Arabia’s aggression on Yemen was approved by Western governments as they are keeping silent on the killing of innocent people in the Arab country. According to Press TV, he said: “The inaction of the West and the human rights organizations on the massacre of the…

Yemeni Revolution Forces Liberates Aden from al-Qaeda, Hadi’s Militiamen, Arrests 15

Yemeni army soldiers supported by the Popular Committees announced Tuesday that two tanks and one armored vehicle were regained as they liberated the city of Aden, expelling terrorists of al-Qaeda takfiri group and militiamen of the outgoing President Abedrabbu Mansour Hadi from the Maala city. Following 13 days of continuous airstrikes and warship attacks targeting the Yemeni people, Ansarullah movement confirmed…

Great satan US increases weapons shipments to Saudi Arabia

The United States has increased its military assistance to Saudi Arabia, extending its participation in the ongoing Saudi-led aggression against Yemen. US Army Colonel Steve Warren said on Tuesday that Washington increased weapons supplies, including ammunition and bombs, to assist the Saudi-led countries that are fighting against the Ansarullah Houthi revolutionaries who are seeking to oust terrorist groups from the country. “It’s…

Saudi-Led Warplanes Pound Yemen School, Kill Students

The Saudi warplanes continued striking the various Yemeni cities, inflicting heavy losses upon the civilians. The Yemeni air defense systems also kept repelling the hostile air raids, according to Al-Manar reporter. At least three Yemeni students were martyred on Tuesday when Saudi-led warplanes pounded a school in the southwestern Ibb province. CNN quoted Yemeni officials as saying that three students had been…

Yemen comes under fresh Saudi attacks

Saudi airstrikes have targeted several gas stations and a military base in Yemen’s central province of Bayda amid the growing crisis in the country. Several areas in Yemen’s Mahweet Province also came under Saudi air raids.

http://www.islamicinvitationturkey.com/category/world-news/middle-east/yemen/

Tags: 8 April 2015, Saudi Aggression in Yemen has Officially Failed ~ Yemen Updates: 8 April 2015, saudi arabia, yemen, Yemen Updates

• April 8, 2015
• capitalism, earth, freedom
• 8 Comments