Decisive Storm: a turning point for the Middle East

Decisive Storm: a turning point for the Middle East
Comment: The joint-military action against the Houthis in Yemen marks a new regional era, where Gulf powers show they will act to protect stability, says Mahmoud Rimawi.
2 min read
27 Mar, 2015
Saudi Arabian military action was at the request of Yemen's president [AFP]

The military intervention in Yemen marks a turning point in the region. Gulf countries have shown they will no longer stand idly by as dangerous developments unfold in Yemen. Yemen is part and parcel of the security of wider region.

The Saudi-led coalition of 10 countries did not wait for the Arab League to sanction their actions in Yemen, as it was obvious the Houthis were closing in on controlling the country.

Riyadh received the message and sent a reply.

By announcing the launch of operation "Decisive Strom", Saudi Arabia's new king, Salman, has inaugurated his reign as a strong ruler with regional clout. But it was not a unilateral decision - it was made at the request of Yemen's president, Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

The campaign shows the Gulf as not only an economic force in the region but also a political and military force. The military action by five GGC countries plus five other regional states points to the formation of a new coalition that will take the initiative against threats to their stability.

     The coup forces were arrogant with power and refused talks and continued their coup plot.


The coup forces refused all the efforts made to reach a political solution in Yemen, as Riyadh and Doha had expressed their willingness to host Yemeni factions, including the Houthis, to a national dialogue that would correct the political situation.

However, the coup forces were arrogant with power and refused talks and continued their coup plot.

In addition to the coup forces, al-Qaeda and other extremist groups are active in Yemen, which threatens international sea commerce as well as the stability of neighbouring countries.

Thus, operation "Decisive Storm" has the potential to weaken all those groups that transgress against the will of the people and which feed off of each other.

One can safely conclude that if the Hiuthis were to abandon their coup efforts, and if the government and elected parliament were allowed to resume their work, the military action would end.

The ball is now in the court of the coup forces.

The region is witnessing the birth of a new era with the correction of the errors in Yemen and preventing the country from slipping into the unknown.