The clear and present danger of Al Houthis

The word ‘coup’ is being used quite a bit to describe the events in Yemen, although ‘surrender’ might be more accurate, said Lebanon’s Daily Star.

“The next move by the [Al] Houthis might be a push to the oil-rich province of Maarib, and from there to the all-important Bab Al Mandab, lying at the entrance to the Red Sea. The relatively muted reaction to all of this is worrying. When Bahrain was rocked by street demonstrations, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) helped settle the situation through military intervention. When Yemen is being rocked by an armed movement, there have been only financial and political moves, but nothing more serious, while the international community has been even less concerned. It is as if the Iran-backed [Al] Houthis are being allowed to take the prize, as part of complex and opaque deal-making connected to the West’s nuclear negotiations with Tehran.”

The National Yemen spoke about the United Nations’ efforts to resolve the issue in a peaceful manner in light of the worsening situation in the country. “The situation in Yemen has steadily deteriorated in recent days as government forces engaged in intense fighting with rebel groups throughout the capital. Following the shelling of the presidential palace and reported attacks on the prime minister’s residence, both President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi and Prime Minister Khalid Bahah submitted their resignations on January 22. The UN Security Council also voiced concerns last week regarding the situation in Yemen, calling on all sides to engage with Jamal Benomar, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General, who the Council said remained well-placed to support parties’ efforts to resolve their differences peacefully.”

Rearranging domestic matters

It seems that the Al Houthis will stop at nothing to carry out their hidden agenda of tearing Yemen apart, said UAE’s Al Bayan. “Protesters took to the streets in Yemen against Al Houthis and were met by bullets, which clearly reaffirms that Al Houthis do not want stability. It is time to rearrange domestic matters and tackle defects in the collapsing political and economic state institutions and enhance national unity. There is still a chance to save the capital and the rest of the Yemeni state from this impending danger. This can be done by bringing together all political and tribal parties, as well as the Yemeni army and wise people. It is vital to engage all political forces in a nationwide dialogue and to put all issues on the negotiating table and provide proper conditions for such a dialogue to be successful to prevent Yemen from sliding into a civil war.”

Al Houthis are now held responsible by the Yemeni people and the world for the deteriorating situation in the country, said Qatar’s Al Sharq. “Al Houthis are currently the only military power in the country and through the use of arms have imposed themselves on the people of Yemen and violated the outcomes of the national dialogue and peace agreement.

“Al Houthis also violated articles of the internationally-backed GCC initiative, persisted in ensuring the failure of the dialogue process, as well as carrying out a coup against the legitimate Yemeni government, seizing control of the presidential palace and state institutions. The group has driven Yemen to the brink of despair, which we hope the Yemeni people will be able to overcome.”