Saudi Arabia attacks Yemen

Web Arab News Digest

Saudi Arabia attacks Yemen

Summary: Saudi Arabia bombs Sanaa and other targets in Yemen, aiming to restore the government of President Hadi. Wide Arab support pledged. No early end likely, meanwhile al-Qa’ida and IS will feel some relief. Oil price rises.

The international context of the Saudi air strikes on Houthis in Yemen which began yesterday 26 March and the likely outcome are exceptionally confused. Saudi Arabia is said to be committing up to 150,000 troops and a hundred aircraft.

The war aims of the combatants, in so far as they have been defined, do not appear to be achievable. The Saudi attack has been denounced in Yemen, Syria and Iran as aggression, perhaps correctly since it is not self defence and has not been authorised by the Security Council, to which Yemen is appealing; Saudi Arabia and its allies can argue that they are acting at the request of the Yemeni president. Before the Saudi attack Washington had strongly condemned Houthi military action against "the elected government", and after the attack John Kerry spoke to the Iranian Foreign Minister about Yemen before turning to the nuclear negotiations. President Putin has called for an immediate ceasefire in telephone conversation with President Rouhani. Both Washington and Moscow will be concerned about the effect on the nuclear negotiations with Iran which are at a delicate stage. They will both be equally concerned lest the conflict between Saudis and Houthis may leave the field clear for al-Qa’ida and IS which had been under attack from both the Yemeni government and the Houthis with active support from the US.

http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=2820afb1fbae0c99e88fb6f52&id=9277566994&e=672f0b89c4