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Saudis rely on US support in Yemen war: Analyst

Yemenis stand amid the ruins of buildings destroyed in an airstrike by Saudi Arabia on the capital Sana’a on July 13, 2015. (© AFP)

Press TV has conducted an interview with Mark Weber, director of the Institute for Historical Review from Santa Ana, to get his take on Saudi Arabia’s relentless aerial attacks against Yemen.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: How do you feel about the fact that the Saudis are essentially flouting their own ceasefire?

Weber: This military campaign is only the latest in a continuing campaign by Saudi Arabia that is made possible by the backing that the Saudis are getting from the United States. It’s important to keep in mind that this overall Saudi campaign in Yemen, which has already taken many lives, would not be possible without the continuing support of the US. Saudi Arabia is after all the most important Arab ally of the United States in this conflict, and unfortunately these strikes by Saudi Arabia have the effect of not only prolonging but also escalating an already very very terrible conflict.

Press TV: Why is the US supporting the Saudis in this and the coalition presumably as well? With Yemen being so strategically placed, do you think the US would want it to be stable?

Weber: Part of the reason right now, it has to do with the great debate about Iran and the Obama administration and especially Republicans in the Senate want to portray the United States as supposedly strong in opposing what are portrayed in American media as proxies of Iran in Yemen. That is part of the reason why especially now the United States is supporting Saudi Arabia in this campaign. The US media has been very very reluctant to focus much attention on the conflict in Yemen, it has received very little attention from the media and from the politicians.  It’s been overshadowed by the debate over the deal with Iran, which is portrayed even by supporters of the nuclear deal as a very dangerous country and that the United States has to be alert and supportive in opposing Iran.  


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