A New Phase In The Yemen War

 

The Houthi rebels are now fighting a new phase of the Yemen War. Israel's attacks on Gaza inflamed the rebellion and  escalated the civil war in Yemen. The response was to stop ships in the Red Sea. The invasion of Lebanon and attacks on Hezbollah  was significant to Houthi rebels. Seeing as both get some degree of support from Iran, the Red Sea response was the next choice. Yemen is nowing facing bombings from Israel's European and American allies. The objective is to ensure that Israel remains an outpost for US and European countries. Yemen could act as a launching area for a war on Iran. Saudi Arabia is a factor in the destabilization of Yemen. The desire to insert a president there loyal to their interest remains a priority. President Rashad al-Alimi made the accusation that al-Qaida was collaborating with Iran. This allegation has no basis, due to the fact a Sunni Muslim terrorist organization would not align with a Shia Muslim theocracy. Al-Qaida in the Arabian peninsula was formed indigenously. The other terrorist organizations were being aided by the West in Syria. The government of Yemen no longer controls the capital of Saana. Aden is now a de-facto capital for the al-Alimi administration. The Presidential Leadership Council has failed to govern Yemen. At one time,  President Rashad al-Alimi took refuge in Saudi Arabia. Like most presidents after the fall Abdullah Ali Salih, they are reliant of Saudi Arabia to enforce their leadership of Yemen. A decade has passed with no end in sight. The new phase of the Yemen War is that other conflicts are going to fuse with it.  

The War On The Houthi Rebels

 

The Houthi movement has been active in Yemen since the 1990s. Only when the Arab Spring occurred in 2011 did they get more international exposure. Saudi Arabia waged war against the movement and its fighters. As the years past, the US began to condemn the military actions that it supported. The reason for the support of Saudi Arabia was to counter Iran's influence in Yemen. The reversal of US policy demonstrates the contradictory nature of foreign affairs. The Houthi rebels in response to Israel's actions in Gaza began targeting ships in the Red Sea. This forces Israel and its European allies to take more expensive shipping routes. The Israel-Gaza War is causing other insurgencies, armed movements, and terrorist organizations to merge into a larger conflict. The UK and the United Arab Emirates have also played a role in creating violence in Yemen. West Asia could be getting closer to a larger regional war, similar to the Six Day War in 1967. Much of the frustration stems from US military presence in the Middle East and being ally of Israel. Some observers see a new formation of groups in response to attempts at nation building and occupation. The axis of resistance includes a coalition of countries and armed groups. Syria, Iran, Hezbollah, the Houthi movement, and Hamas are fighting a against European influence, Israel, and the Gulf monarchies. If shipping continues to be disrupted, the West will respond with more military strikes. The civil war in Yemen has now become a war against the Houthi rebels.  

Iran and Saudi Arabia Set To Restore Diplomatic Relations

 

Iran and Saudi Arabia are going to resume diplomatic ties. For a region that has been in turmoil for 12 years the announcement  is welcomed by advocates for peace. The hope is that this will bring a halt to the conflict in Yemen. The two countries have been backing various armed factions. Iran provides support to the Houthi rebels, while Saudi Arabia attempts to install a puppet regime. The break through was the work of China under the direction on Wang Yi. Stabilization in Yemen could also mean that Syria could be next on the topics to be addressed. Both Iran and Saudi Arabia have been involved in the Syrian Civil War. The majority of the Gulf monarchies have been attempting to depose the Baathist government. Iran is an ally of President Bashar Al-Assad.  Saudi Arabia has provided arms to terrorist organizations active in the country. Both Yemen and Syria will be major obstacles to keeping Iranian-Saudi relations stable. The decline in relations is rooted in the execution of Nimr al-Nimr. The Shia sheikh was a major figure in the Arab Spring protests of 2011 to 2012. The desire to have elections and representation for the Shia Muslims of Saudi Arabia made him a target by the Saudi monarchy. His imprisonment and death caused much anger in Iran. As Yemen and Syria descended into violence these internal conflicts were morphed into wars of proxy. Now that the situation has changed, some ponder what Israel might do. Saudi and Iranian conflict worked in their favor. Iran is considered Israel's competitor and a peace settlement would hinder their expansionist ambitions. The plan to extend settlements might go beyond the West Bank. The reestablishment of ties shows that China's influence is growing in the Middle East.