W&cs
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The document discusses the geopolitical motivations behind the war in Yemen. Key strategic locations like the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and Gulf of Aden are at the center of tensions. The rise of the Houthi movement in Yemen concerned the US, Saudi Arabia, and Israel due to Iran's potential influence. Control over Yemen would allow influence over vital maritime trade routes. The document argues the war is less about sectarian divides and more about great power competition over Yemen and control of strategic chokepoints in the region.
W&cs
- 2. In middle East a tragic picture is emerging , Iraq Syria, Libya and now YEMEN are apparently being torn apart by geo-sectarian and ethnic conflicts. Specifically war on Yemen is a smokescreen. Concealed behind the smoke is a tale of geopolitics and petro- politics that aims to control the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden.
- 4. Geo-Politics Behind Yemen War The United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia & Israel became very uneasy when the Yemenese or Yemenite movement of the Houthi or Ansarallah (meaning the supporters of God in Arabic) gained control of Yemens capital (Sanaa, Sana).
- 5. Added to the geopolitical importance of Yemen in overseeing strategic maritime corridors is its militarys missile arsenal. Yemens missiles could hit any ships in the Gulf of Aden or Bab Al-Mandeb. In this regard, the Saudi attack on Yemens strategic missile depots serves both US and Israeli interests. The aim is not only to prevent them from being used to retaliate against exertions of Saudi military force, but to also prevent them from being available to a Yemeni government aligned to either Iran, Russia, or China.
- 6. The Sectarian Narrative The instability in Yemen is being caused not by Iran or the Houthis, but by US and Saudi interference in Yemen. Yemen is not an inherently divided country. Aside from the nurturing of Al-Qaeda by Saudi Arabia and the US, there is no real Shia-Sunni split or tensions.
- 7. Involvement Of US US wants to make sure that it could control the Bab Al- Mandeb, the Gulf of Aden, and the Socotra Islands. The Bab Al-Mandeb is an important strategic chokepoint for international maritime trade and energy shipments that connects the Persian Gulf via the Indian Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea via the Red Sea. It is just as important as the Suez Canal for the maritime shipping lanes and trade between Africa, Asia, and Europe.
- 8. US and undoubtedly several of its NATO allies have decided to only provide logistical and intelligence support to the Saudis for the war on Yemen. US and Britain and like countries provided military hardware, bombs for the attack, refueling its warplanes, intelligence, and logistical support.
- 9. KSAs Interests The House of Saud has long considered Yemen a subordinate province of some sorts and as a part of Riyadhs sphere of influence. Despite trade issues Saudi Arabia is visibly afraid that Yemen could become formally aligned to Iran and that the events there could result in new rebellions in the Arabian Peninsula against the House of Saud.
- 10. Countries Participating In military campaign The coalition includes eight Arab states. Saudi Arabia Bahrain Kuwait Qatar UAE Morocco Egypt Jordan Sudan Senegal While US, UK and France are providing logistical support.
- 11. Israels Concerns Israel is also concerned, because control of Yemen could cut off Israels access to the Indian Ocean via the Red Sea and prevent its submarines from easily deploying to the Persian Gulf to threaten Iran. Irans Expanding control. Iran is an Empire & Our Capital is Baghdad Said Tehran Official .
Editor's Notes
- #7: If anyone is engaged in sectarianism as a policy, it is the US and its Arab petro-sheikdom allies. Both the US and Saudi Arabia had engaged the Houthis earlier and used them against the Muslim Brotherhood in Yemen. Additionally, during the Cold War both Washington and the House of Saud tried to use the Yemeni Shiites against the republicans in North Yemen and the Peoples Democratic Republic of Yemen in the south. It is when the Houthi movement demonstrated that it was not going to be a client to Washington or Riyadh, that the US and Saudi Arabia became hostile towards it.
- #9: Not eager to reveal their roles in another illegal war on another sovereign country, the US and undoubtedly several of its NATO allies have decided to keep low profiles in the attack on Yemen. This is why Washington has opted to publicly present itself as only providing logistical and intelligence support to the Saudis for the war on Yemen. The war on Yemen, however, would not be possible without the US. Not only have countries like the US and Britain provided military hardware to Saudi Arabia, but they are providing it with bombs for the attack, refueling its warplanes, providing intelligence, and giving the Kingdom logistical support.
- #12: The strategic equation in the Middle East began to shift as it became clear that Iran was becoming central to its security architecture and stability. The House of Saud and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began to whimper and complain that Iran was in control of four regional capitalsBeirut, Damascus, Baghdad, and Sana and that something had to be done to stop Iranian expansion. As a result of the new strategic equation, the Israelis and the House of Saud became perfectly strategically aligned with the objective of neutralizing Iran and its regional allies.