Fresh off killing scores of civilians in an airstrike on the Yemeni capital city of Sanaa, Saudi Arabia has declared victory in their ongoing war against the Houthis, insisting the military objectives of “Operation Decisive Storm” have all been achieved.
For those keeping track, the initially stated goal was to reinstall former President Hadi, who is still living in exile in Riyadh. In the three weeks of strikes, hundreds of civilians have been killed, humanitarian resources are in short supply everywhere, Houthi forces are still contesting Aden with Hadi forces, and al-Qaeda has taken considerable territory in the east.
The declaration of victory and an end to the war doesn’t appear to mean an actual end to the war, however, as officials are announcing “Operation Renewal of Hope,” which will begin immediately, and will include military components. They’re describing it as an anti-terror operation, though the indications are that it will continue to focus on the Shi’ites, and not al-Qaeda.
Rather than a meaningful change in the nature of the war itself, it seems likely that what officials are doing is simply rebranding an unpopular war that has already created a huge humanitarian calamity into a new war with the same goals and participants, but which hasn’t gotten the bad reputation yet.
While officials are suggesting an “end” to the airstrikes, this may only be temporary, and the naval blockade keeping food out of the country seems set to continue.
The only real change here is that al Qaeda took considerable territory in the East.
Is that the Saudi idea of victory? That would be consistent with their past behavior in Iraq and Syria.
Yes. That was the Saudi objective.
The Riyadh "government", or the entity of a family owned government/business can claime all and every "victory" is out there, as Israel each and every time claim victory when they have managed to kill hundreds of innocent people, destroying the infrastructure in GAZA, hospitals, schools and any other living places is not a victory, is a deliberate killing acts, act against humanity and humans rights.
Saudi Arabia with its fake and falsified Islamic brothers as GCC have no legitimate rights whatsoever invading, attacking other nation, as they are doing it in Syria, Libya, Iraq and in Africa where the majority of people's not sharing nor believing in Saudis regime and its Islamic shariah laws. Such act is simply pre stone age and or when Changiz Khan the mogul started destroying nation heritage and culture, as Saudis ISIS and all other als created and committed doing all over the world.
Why do you insult Changiz Khan?
not going to that again, promise!
Changiz we Kahn believe in!
The Houthis need to launch about 50 scuds into Saudi Arabia to give them their just desserts.
It's the turn of the Saudi National Guard. There are 2 distinct military structures in KSA.
Quite why this is happening I'm not sure, but I suspect wiser heads in KSA sense danger to their own rule should they do much more damage in Yemen.
"Decisive Storm"? Really?
Looks more like a case of "We're not doing so well so we're just going to declare victory and go home".
Its another GW Bush type victory, nothing Achieved except to rile the enemy up, making it a long term war! Obviously the same American Battle Planners as Iraq and Afghanistan!
Yemen Civil War — The people and government are one
For perhaps the first time in the history of Yemen, the deadly force of Yemen government reflects the organized will of the people. For the Houta movement has won the civil war and as horrible a thought as it is to all the oil rich dictators of the Middle-East, a monopoly on the use of force and violence for the first time in history is in the hands of the people.
So, Empire USA, what are you going to do next?
Yemen Civil War — The people and government are one
For perhaps the first time in the history of Yemen, the deadly force of Yemen government reflects the organized will of the people. For the Houta movement has won the civil war and as horrible a thought as it is to all the oil rich dictators of the Middle-East, a monopoly on the use of force and violence for the first time in history is in the hands of the people.
So, Empire USA, what are you going to do next?
The BBC wants the bombing to continue, so I assume the rest of the Establishment does as well. I listened with incredulity while a reporter asked why the Saudis stopped the bombing before achieving their military objectives. (He didn't have an answer or suggest one)
I never heard him ask why the Saudis started the bombing, on whose orders, or who would benefit…
The Saudi monarchy will fall soon. The invasion of Yemen was a deadly miscalculation by the new king Salman and his young son Mohammad, the 29 year old Defense Minister.