Aidarus al-Zoubaidi of Yemen’s UN-backed government calls for Western nations to take action against the Houthi leadership while Iran is weakened. He advocates for coordinated airstrikes and ground operations, urging the US to classify the Houthis as a terrorist organization. Emphasizing the importance of intelligence cooperation, al-Zoubaidi expresses skepticism toward the Biden administration’s current approach and calls for a substantial military response amidst declining prospects for a diplomatic resolution.
Aidarus al-Zoubaidi, the vice-president of the UN-backed Yemeni government, urged Western nations to act against the Tehran-backed Houthi leadership in Yemen while Iran is perceived to be weakened. He indicated that recent setbacks for Iran in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza have made it more vulnerable, suggesting now is an opportune moment to counter the Houthis and expel them from their positions.
During comments made at the World Economic Forum in Davos, al-Zoubaidi advocated for coordinated ground forces in Yemen to work alongside Western air strikes as part of a comprehensive strategy against the Houthis. He additionally pressed the new US administration to classify the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization, commending former President Donald Trump’s decisive stance on this matter.
Al-Zoubaidi’s statements reflect a strategy from the Presidential Leadership Council in Aden, which views Iran’s weakening stature and potential policies of the new US administration as favorable for launching military operations against the Houthis. He asserted that while Iran will likely continue to support the Houthis, this moment presents a crucial opportunity to push back decisively.
Furthermore, al-Zoubaidi expressed readiness to provide intelligence assistance to any forces targeting Houthi positions, implying a possibility of collaboration with various nations, potentially even Israel. He criticized prior US and UK air strikes against the Houthis as ineffective due to their failure to target Houthi leadership and critical operational sites, suggesting a need for a more integrated military approach.
The ongoing US military efforts have primarily aimed to deter Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, which the Houthis describe as solidarity actions for Palestinians. After seizing control of Yemen’s capital Sana’a in 2014, the Houthis have indicated that any attacks during the Gaza ceasefire would be limited only to Israeli-linked ships.
Al-Zoubaidi nonetheless cautioned that Houthi support structures differ significantly from those of groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, suggesting that attacks on leadership alone may not suffice to weaken the Houthis. Furthermore, he criticized the Biden administration for its less aggressive approach, particularly citing the downgrade of the Houthis’ terrorist designation as having provided them with more operational freedom.
His remarks signal a shift away from diplomatic efforts for peace, indicating a lack of faith in existing resolutions. While the Southern Transitional Council, which he leads, enjoys support from the UAE, it remains unclear whether his calls for military escalation align with Saudi Arabia’s stance or that of the current US foreign policy team.
The ongoing conflict in Yemen, largely characterized by the power struggle between the Iran-supported Houthi movement and the internationally recognized Yemeni government, has seen external influences play a crucial role. The Iranian government has been involved in various regional conflicts, and its perceived weakening provides a potential strategic opening for Western nations and Yemeni allies to confront the Houthis. The Houthi group gained notoriety following their capture of Yemen’s capital in 2014, and international responses to their actions have evolved over time, including discussions about their classification as terrorist organizations.
The UN-backed Yemeni government’s vice-president, Aidarus al-Zoubaidi, is actively calling for Western intervention against the Houthis, citing Iran’s weakened influence as a key opportunity. There are suggestions of coordinated military action combining airstrikes and ground forces, alongside intelligence sharing, indicating a shift in tactics away from solely diplomatic measures. The remarks underscore a growing impatience with the existing peace roadmap and a pivot towards more aggressive military strategies against the Houthis.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
