Part of what journalists do is to repeat your claims and accusations in order to provoke a passionate and unguarded response from you. This makes some of their questions seem a bit hostile and contradictory. I try to answer them with an appreciation of their need to play the devil's advocate. Here is a sample of such interactions:
Q: “So why have Saudi Arabia and its allies started “Restoring Hope” without the clear submission of the Houthis and their allies?”
A: I thought you were eager to stop the war! Anyway, I believe the said operation has been initiated because the Yemeni government has had credible assurances that a ceasefire would lead to the militias' acceptance of Security Council resolutions, the Gulf Initiative, and the National Dialogue agreements.
The Yemeni president and his government, which requested the assistance of the Arab Alliance against the militias, also requested the end of the aerial campaign and the start of the next phase - peace and nation-building.
Because the Iranians and their agents are infamous for trickery, the Alliance decided to keep a check on the acceptance of the peace terms by the militias. If they returned to their old ways, the allies would return as well to punishing them.
Q: “Wasn't this decision because you were afraid of Iran? After all, they did send military ships to Yemen and their foreign ministry announced the ceasefire hours before the Alliance did?”
A: Iran has been shouting and kicking since the start of Decisive Storm. Their threats fell on deaf ears. The few warships they sent were no match for the powerful fleets of the Alliance and the US, not to mention Arab air supremacy. The Alliance spokesman clearly promised to hit and sink any ship that refused to be searched before reaching Yemeni ports.
Iran's Assistant Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in leaking the ceasefire was hinting at his country's close involvement with the Houthis. However, a leak is a leak - it does not equal an announcement. Those who declared the start of Decisive Storm are the only ones who could call it off.
Q:“The Alliance has announced the end of Decisive Storm, but now they are going back to business, hitting and killing the Houthis and their allied forces!”
A: The ceasefire was conditional on the insurgents' acceptance of all Security Council resolutions and Gulf Initiative and National Dialogue agreements. While former president Saleh was announcing his acceptance of the ceasefire, his forces and the Houthis were continuing their drive into Taiz, Aden, Marib and toward the Saudi borders. They seemed to have misunderstood the purpose of the ceasefire and saw it as one-sided and an opportunity to finish what they had started. Still, the Alliance only targeted such forces. The political part of Restoring Hope is continuing in parallel.
What is your take, dear readers? How do you see the solution to this conflict? Can peace thrive in such horrible conditions? Here are your comments on my last article: “Arab alliance — Iran's overdue nightmare!”
Funny article
- Dr. Khaled, this is an entertaining piece. Frankly I couldn't stop laughing. Thanks for the great fun, especially your use of the term Farsi empire interchangeably with Persian Empire!!! Farsi is a language, lol.” Mihryazd
“As a Yemeni, I'm in total agreement with everything you wrote. Year 2016 can't come fast enough to elect a new president. I have a beautiful and generous country that I love. I thank the Saudis for all the support they gave us. Iran, Hezbollah and Russia are the true axis of evil. May God bless King Salman.” P J
Helping hand
“I believe we have to do something great for Yemen after the war to help them in rebuilding their country. It hurts to see them suffering so much.” Ahmed Showel
Thank you Saudi Arabia!
“Iran wants to spread its venom in the Arabian Peninsula but thanks to Saudi Arabia for stepping into the chaos that Iran has started. May Allah protect the beloved King Salman and the whole Muslim Ummah.” Chris Yu
Deeds not talk
“Deeds are our reaction. Talk is theirs. Needless to say that Decisive Storm created a great hope inside us and strengthened our dignity and tightened our unity. Thank you very much King Salman and our allies.” Dr. Abdullah Al-Kheliewi
“The majority of Iranians are against Iranian mullah ideology—such as Arabs, Baluchis, Kurds, Azerbaijanis, Turks, Sunnis and movements like the Greens. Irani mullahs want to impose their fanatic ideology on others.
Since its revolution, Iran has been messing with the affairs of Afghanistan, Lebanon and parts of Pakistan. Then the Farsi nation worked on its agenda in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Bahrain, and now in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Iran has been playing a very dangerous game in the region covertly, but now its ambitions are obvious. A united Muslim army is very much needed to stop them.” Noman Zafar
Dr. Khaled M. Batarfi is a Saudi writer based in Jeddah. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @kbatarfi
