Yemen Is Saudi Arabia's Back Yard, And It Is Their Responsibility, Not America's, To Police It

The Houthis, or Anṣār Allāh (“Defenders of God”), have been around in one form or another for many years. The name derives from their founder: Hussein Badr al-Din al-Houthi, who was killed by the Yemeni government in 2004. The origins of the terrorist movement follow the tired pattern of so many Muslim terrorist groups...some religious or tribal schism that drives maniacal killing for reasons that most modern people would think are nuts!

But that doesn't matter much when their chaotic violence expands past the borders of their failed state. The Houthis have expanded their drive to subjugate Yemen into Saudi Arabia, and at the behest of their Iranian masters have attacked shipping near the western Yemen coastline, which is conveniently (for them) near the narrow Bab Al Mandeb strait, choking Red Sea and Suez Canal shipping. They now control almost 100 miles of that coastline, so they have plenty of opportunity to disrupt a major sea route for world commerce.

Saudi Arabia has tried, and failed, to control the Houthi expansion in Yemen. Apparently the Saudi armed forces have modern weaponry that doesn't translate into quality forces. They have gotten their asses kicked by what -- at least on the surface -- looks like a bunch of 7th century tribes that hide out in the mountains and conduct guerilla warfare against the KSA. Except they are being supported by Iran, which means they have sophisticated (for Muslims) weaponry that they use to good effect against anyone within reach. And what they have discovered is in reach are the oil pipelines that KSA uses to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran is trying to control petroleum exporting to the rest of the world.

Saudi Arabia has dithered and obfuscated and fought (poorly) and tried to negotiate with the Houthis, and nothing they have tried has worked. They are unwilling and probably unable to mount a concerted military effort against them to end, once and for all, the Houthi threats against petroleum commerce and the security of Saudi Arabia.

But...that ain't America's problem. We have sold KSA billions of dollars worth of modern arms, have trained their armed forces, have conducted training exercises with them, and have supported them in all respects. It is time for them to step up and do the work that is necessary. Otherwise, why have we spent so much time and effort?

Saudi Arabia facing 'biggest threat' ever to oil production as Iran-proxy Houthis launch attacks, expert says

Hussain Abdul-Hussain, a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said Thursday that the situation is escalating in the Middle East as Iran "likely instigated the Houthis to force a blockade on Saudi Arabia."

"I think this situation is really precarious for the Saudis. This is the biggest threat to their production of oil since their kingdom was founded in 1932. And this is almost existential," he said.

"We see that the Saudis are trying to shop for some force to fight their war for them. And I think along the lines, they also called President Trump. It doesn't look to me that Washington is going to get involved in this one," he added. "We'll probably offer them advice and tell support, but I don't think we, the United States, will get involved with this war over Bab el-Mandeb."

Saudi Arabia says Houthis targeted its capital with a missile

Saudi Arabia on Saturday said that Yemen’s Houthi rebels tried to attack Riyadh with a ballistic missile, the first time the Saudi capital has been targeted since the escalation in fighting with the Iran-backed rebels opened a new front in the Iran war.

The statement said the attack was intercepted. Some residents in Riyadh heard an explosion, and later some saw a plume of smoke near the airport. There were no reports of casualties or damage.

The statement also said the Houthis tried to attack civilian infrastructure in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu — where a key Saudi pipeline ends — and in Taif, Baysh and Farasan but they were thwarted, giving no further details.

The Houthis earlier claimed, without providing evidence, that they had targeted “sensitive sites” in Riyadh and facilities of Saudi oil giant Aramco in Yanbu, causing “massive fires.” Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, did not respond to a request for comment.

posted by CBD at 12:00 PM

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