Saudis fail to achieve aims in Yemen aggression: Analyst

Press TV has conducted an interview with Naseer al-Omari, a writer & political commentator from New York, to get his take on Yemenis’ retaliatory attacks against Saudi military bases to force Riyadh to halt airstrikes against Yemen.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: We know that as the Saudi attacks continue on Yemen, the Yemenis are also retaliating. Just how effective are these Yemeni attacks? Can they convince the Saudis that regardless of how long they continue their aggression, they cannot win?

Al-Omari: Well, so far, they’re showing the Saudi royal family that their plan is not working. If you went ahead and attack the Houthis to stop them from taking over Yemen and now they’re attacking your borders, then you are not achieving your objective. Nor are they achieving their other objectives. Actually this campaign has failed miserably. And most importantly it has failed Yemeni people. About four thousand people have died and the Yemenis have been enduring the worst humanitarian situation in a very very long time. So, if this was intended to help Yemenis, it’s not helping Yemenis. If it was intended to protect Saudi Arabia, it’s not protecting Saudi Arabia.  And the Houthis are not going anywhere and the forces of Ali Abdullah Saleh have a foothold in Yemen and it’s not easy to uproot them. These people are Yemenis, they have people who are loyal to them. There’s a need to return to negotiating table and misery of the Yemenis, which they have endured for no purpose.

Press TV: But what about the UN and the international community? What are the reasons behind their inaction and silence?

Al-Omari: Well, I think the American administration has fallen into the Saudi trap. They have been told by the Saudis that this is a war against Iran and they have to stop the Houthis. And to be honest with you, if you look at what they have been doing. They have been targeting not only the infrastructure of Yemen but also they have gone after Houthi businesses, Houthi organizations, so the plan is vicious here. It’s not aimlessly destroying Yemen. It’s also destroying the infrastructure, the businesses, the organizations in Sa’ada and other places where the Houthis might one day come back and have a semblance of government.  The problem is the Yemenis are suffering by the day and there’s no end in sight. So, that’s why this war has turned into a major failure because it has mainly failed the Yemeni people.

ABN/NN

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