Thursday, July 23, 2015

Is The Yemen War Shifting In Favor Of Saudi Arabia And its Allies?

A Saudi military cargo plane is seen at the international airport of Yemen's southern port city of Aden July 22, 2015. Reuters/Stringer

Reuters: Frontlines of Yemen's war shift in favor of Riyadh

The tide of Yemen's messy war has unexpectedly turned, handing a morale boost and possibly decisive military momentum to Gulf Arab-backed forces bent on ending the ascendancy of the Houthis, a powerful militia they see as a puppet of Iran.

The loss of the strategic southern port of Aden in the space of just a few days is a spectacular reversal for the Houthis, a once obscure rural group that won national importance last year before gaining the upper hand in a four-month-old civil war.

At stake in what happens next is the stability of a country that is a cockpit of rivalry between regional powers Saudi Arabia and Iran, sits on leading international shipping routes and provides a haven for al Qaeda's boldest international wing.

WNU Editor: The war may have shifted to favor Saudi Arabia and its allies in one part of the country, but Yemen is a large country, and this conflict is far from over.

More News On The War In Yemen

Saudi arms shipment arrives in Yemen's Aden airport: official. -- Reuters
Rockets strike key Yemen airport a day after reopening -- Daily Star/AFP
Hadi forces boosted as Saudi jet lands in liberated Aden -- Arab News
After repelling Shiite rebels, Saudi-backed Yemeni troops gain full control of city of Aden -- AP
Yemen's Houthis 'pushed from last Aden stronghold' -- Al Jazeera
Yemen's ex-leader in talks to resolve war: party official -- Sydney Morning Herald
Yemen: First Saudi aid plane arrives in Aden -- Asharq Al-Awsat
U.N. ship brings food aid to Yemen's Aden as fighting rages -- Yemen Online
Will Houthi retreat mean more Yemen aid? -- IRIN
UNESCO launches plan to safeguard Yemen's cultural heritage sites -- UN News Centre
A battle that could define the Yemen war -- Manuel Almeida, Al Arabiya

1 comment:

B.Poster said...

"...this conflict is far from over." This is so true. Throughout history wars have often lasted many years and in some cases decades. During this time the tide can and does shift many times. We may see many turns in this war where fortunes turn. One week the Saudi backed side may take the lead. the next week the Iranian side takes the lead and so on.

Regardless who wins here it is not going to be a victory for America. While Saudi Arabia seems to be less overtly hostile to America than Ian is, at present, Saudi Arabia is hostile to America nonetheless. Every time I think of Saudi Arabia I cannot help but think "15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers." Regardless who prevails here it is probably bad for America. Perhaps a Saudi victory would be less bad for America than an Iranian one.