Saudi Arabia’s intentions were, for the most part, to thwart Iran’s relentless attempts to plant the Houthis – a loyal, Hezbollah-like Shia militia – on the Saudis’ southern borders.
The UAE has sought to free south Yemen from both the Houthis and al-Qaeda and later use the region as a launching pad for its own strategic influence in the Horn of Africa.
The picture now – including the stalemate in the strategic port of Hodeida – tells us that the Saudi policy has failed, while the UAE’s self-interests have increased.
…Yemen has become, in effect, two countries which are hostile to each other.
…The Saudis are under no illusion, however, that they will win the war. They, along with the Emiratis, have long concluded that the Yemen war is unwinnable, and have been looking for a way out.
hmmmm
