The constant defeats of Al Houthis in Yemen are a severe blow to their morale. And there is a need to check Iran’s deceitful schemes in Arab countries. These were some of the issues that garnered attention in the Arab media this week.

Commenting on the situation in Yemen, UAE’s Al Bayan observed that more than three-fourths of the country has been liberated and is now under the control of the legitimate government led by President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi and Vice-President Khalid Bahah.

“The overwhelming victory, which led to the liberation of more cities, rebuffs the assumption of quitters who believed that the popular resistance was only liberating the south of Yemen with the aim of setting up an independent nation. Yemen is one nation, and it will remain so. The current operations to defend Yemen are [meant] to defend Yemen as a whole, without tearing the country apart. The ongoing efforts, led by Saudi Arabia with the participation of GCC nations, are based on moral obligations, our security and everyone’s safety [interests], and most importantly, the safety of the people of Yemen.”

Qatar’s Al Sharq said that the rapid developments in Yemen and the collapse of Al Houthi militia and forces loyal to ousted Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh signal an improvement in the Yemeni situation. “The constant defeats of Al Houthis constitute a severe blow to the morale of these forces and their leaders. Observers have also indicated that many of the militia’s members are returning to the northern Sa’ada Province, which is the main stronghold for the group. These surprising developments reveal that the alliance between Al Houthis and Saleh is breaking apart, particularly now that both parties have agreed to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 2216 and withdraw their forces from cities and provinces ... Hadi, his legitimate government and the Yemeni people, will not allow the reoccurrence of the scenario of deception.”

The London-based pan-Arab newspaper Al Quds Al Arabi said that statements by former US army chief of staff Raymond Odierno that partitioning Iraq was the only solution is clear evidence of the extent of failure and complexity of the situation in the country. “The US administration, however, has reiterated its support for Iraqi unity, even though such statements were issued just for media consumption. The reality is that Odierno’s statements do not reflect his own view but the Pentagon’s official assessment pertaining to America’s obvious failure in establishing a unified [Iraqi] army or defeating Daesh [the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant] to restore the unity of a country that is deeply divided. Perhaps these statements will actually fuel the protests demanding the establishment of a new Iraq that is truly independent and free from the dominance of any foreign power, such as the US, Iran or others.”

It is time to benefit from the demands of our brothers in Iraq by rejecting those who have given in to Iran, Saudi Arabia’s Al Yaum noted. “Iran has always been deceitful, scheming, [and] interfering in internal matters and setting up armed cells in our nations, such as in Kuwait. Tehran is exerting all efforts to oppose the choices of the Iraqi people, both Sunnis and Shiites, especially since people have found out that Iran is the primary reason for Iraq’s ordeal. [The people to blame are] Iran’s corrupt allies in the Iraqi government, like [former premier] Nouri Al Maliki, who did not respect the will of his people.”