Arab coalition will get the job done in Yemen

In 2015, when the Saudi-led alliance decided to go all out and fight for the cause of the Yemeni people and their ousted government, it had wider interests in mind. The alliance understands the role Iran plays in stoking sectarian violence in the region. It knew well that Iran was providing firepower and training to the Houthis, and would eventually use the rebels against the Gulf countries, including the UAE. The latest threats by Houthi leader Abdel Malek Al Houthi vindicates the stance taken by the bloc. The Iran-backed rebels could have never been trusted. All their claims of representing the people of Yemen and fighting for their cause are farce. The civilians are yearning for freedom from trammels of sectarian violence and chaos that have pervaded their lives. They are the ones who are suffering the most as widespread famine and an outbreak of cholera continues to claim lives in areas that are under the control of the Houthis.

The war in Yemen has killed over 10,000 civilians and displaced three million people. Lives have been ravaged, and despair looms large. The ground realities are way too gruesome for a normal society. Official accounts by the United Nations paint a grim picture. People do not know if they would be able to feed their children and keep them safe. UN humanitarian chief Stephen O’Brien recently said that 17 million Yemenis don’t know where their next meal would come from. Nearly seven million Yemeni people face the threat of famine and almost 16 million lack access to clean water and sanitation. Around 2,000 have been killed and around 500,000 are affected by a cholera outbreak. People are in dire need of help, but the Houthi rebels care only for their hollow victory. Tehran is playing a wicked game of power through these rebels. Just like it has bankrolled Hezbollah for over three decades, it is doing the same with the Houthis to fuel tensions in this part of the Middle East, which is known for its political stability and progressive outlook. However, such tactics will not work. The Saudi-led coalition is unfazed and will fight fire with fire to ensure stability in the region.