Saudi Arabia seeks to fragment Yemen: Analyst

Press TV has conducted an interview with Ali al-Ahmed, an analyst in Washington, to discuss Saudi Arabia’s ongoing military aggression against Yemen.

What follows is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: With death and destruction being committed by Saudi Arabia on a daily basis in Yemen, do you see any end in sight to this war?

Ahmed: So far, we do not see any end in sight in terms of the Saudi decision to continue bombing Yemen for the short- and maybe long-term.

The Saudi goals in Yemen appear now not to aiming to restore Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi but to fragment Yemen along sectarian and tribal lines so Yemen would break up into three different regions. Hadhramaut is one and the south and the north are the other parts.

So, apparently this is the Saudi plan now. It has morphed into breaking up Yemen and leaving Yemen just like it left other countries in the region in chaotic situation and dependent on its neighbors.

Press TV: But how the Saudis been able to reach their objectives?

Ahmed: No. Their original objective has been defeated because they did not expect the people of Yemen, the unity of the Yemeni people against an aggression and it is an outside aggression. They did not realize how aware the Yemenis of all of different backgrounds [are of] the Saudi ill plans for their country.

Press TV: Many countries, including Iran, are calling for this crisis to be solved diplomatically through political means. What are the chances for a political solution to this crisis, do you think?

Ahmed: Without American pressure on the Saudis, I do not think we will find a political solution. The Americans are quietly unhappy about this war but they continue to provide direct assistance to the bombing and they have been unwilling to criticize this war publicly or pressure the Saudis or raise this issue but they are playing it in a way safe by leaking the fact that they are unhappy; yet, they have not made any movement to show that displeasure to the Saudis publicly or privately.

Press TV: So what you are saying is that the United States is literally the main obstacle in the way of reaching a political solution to this war?

Ahmed: I think the United States decision... If the US decides this war should stop, it will stop. The Saudis cannot say “no” to the Americans; and yet the Americans are shooting themselves in the face by letting this war continue because the only benefactor of the Saudi war has been al-Qaeda and ISIS, which has grown in strength and control of resources in Yemen since the bombing of Yemen by the Saudis and its axis of dictators in April.

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