News Analysis: Arab intervention in Yemen double-edged sword

The Saudi-led coalition forces have conducted air strikes for the second night on Thursday in Yemen's capital and several other cities that destroyed military targets of the Shiite Houthi group and former President Ali Abdullah Saleh who was accused of allying the Houthis to overrun the country.

The military action was in response to an appeal by President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi who asked for immediate military intervention following the Houthi aggression in southern regions.

Observers said foreign intervention is a double-edged sword, it could help weaken violent, stubborn militia groups and also could lead to a backlash and further violence.

DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD

Fuad Alsalahi, a political sociology professor at Sanaa University, said all types of foreign intervention are unwelcome because only the Yemeni people lose in all cases.

"It is affecting Yemen's sovereignty. I don't think it will solve the problem or restore legitimacy but rather it will deepen disagreements and powerful struggle," Alsalahi said.

The military action comes amid dramatic developments putting the country on the edge of an all-out civil war and a humanitarian disaster due to economic challenges deepened by the ongoing political crisis.

Abdul Salam Muhammad, head of ABAAD studies and research center, said the military action was the last resort to salvage the political process after some factions insisted on violence.

"The Houthi group had the chance to prevent the situation from developing into foreign intervention, it could serve peace instead of wars," he said. "The action increases chances for resuming talks and it is expected that militants avoid military adventures."

Five Gulf states, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Sudan and Pakistan are participating in the operation which includes targeting military positions of the Houthi group.

Ground troops from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan and Pakistan will intervene if necessary, Secretary General of the Arab League Nabil Al-Arabi said at the Arab summit held in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Thursday.

Najeeb Ghalab, a politics professor at Sanaa University, said the Houthi takeover of power may result in collapse of economy and stability.

He said the operations of the Saudi-led coalition forces should not be seen as invasion or meddling because Yemen is a member in the Arab League.

Meanwhile, observers excluded that the Arab military action in Yemen will escalate regional power struggle or affect the Iranian nuclear talks.

Anis Mansour, a political analyst and writer in Aden, said "it is not expected that the Iranian nuclear talks are connected to the situation in Yemen. Iran's influence in Yemen concerns regional countries especially GCC neighbors and Egypt."

FURTHER VIOLENCE

In the past few days, Houthi militants launched fierce battles against the army and pro-Hadi tribal fighters in a bid to seize the south.

Intensified gunfire could be heard on the outskirts of Aden, which the president assigned as the temporary capital last week. Capital Sanaa has now been under control of the Houthi group for almost half a year.

In the port city, all foreign diplomatic missions were suspended. The Aden international airport was shut down because all of its staff have left for fears, but diplomats of the Gulf Arab nations have already flown out of the country.

Observers argued that the offensive in the south could deepen grievances of southerners and chaos.

Muhammad of ABAAD center said the offensive in the south would fuel sectarianism because southerners never accept that pro-Iran Houthi militants and the former regime to rule them.

"Separation, increasing terror and potential threats to key waterways will be immediate results and, in the end, an endless civil war will prevail," Muhammad said.

On Thursday, Hadi arrived in Saudi Arabia's capital of Riyadh on Thursday, Saudi Press Agency reported, as the embattled president is supposed to head the Yemeni delegation to participate in the Arab League summit in Sharm el-Shiekh two days later to rally for support. Endit