‘Light at the end of the tunnel’ in Yemen

The one year anniversary for the launch of Operation Decisive Storm was the focus of the region’s papers this week.

The success of Operation Decisive Storm is clear for all to see, changing the situation from one of pessimism to optimism, said UAE’s Al Bayan.

“The operation against the rebels, Iran’s agents, was launched following an official request by the Yemeni legitimate government. The Arab coalition’s military intervention in Yemen was launched to restore stability to the country and ensure that it continues to carry out its vital regional role. The intervention helped the Arab coalition and Yemen hold off the terrorism and terrorist groups that are corrupting the region. The intervention also helped avert a civil war in Yemen, which would have dragged the nation and entire region into a spiral of violence. It has been a year since the launch of Operation Decisive Storm, and Yemeni parties are now discussing political solutions and the legitimate government controls over 85 per cent of the country’s areas.”

The Arab Coalition, through Operation Decisive Storm, was able to liberate Aden in record time, said Qatar’s Al Sharq.

“Following the liberation of Yemen’s temporary capital, the coalition liberated four governorates that were under the control of Al Houthis and forces loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh. The coalition was also able to take control of Yemen’s airspace only a few minutes after the operation was launched. It has been a year since the operation began, and now the Yemeni Popular Resistance forces and National Army have liberated the governorates of Marib and Al Jawf, surrounding the Yemeni capital Sanaa, as well as breaking the siege on Taiz. Operation Decisive Storm, which was later renamed Operation Restoring Hope, is now in its second year. It has resulted in major challenges on the ground, giving hope for achieving the aspirations of Yemeni people.”

The Houthis and Saleh’s forces should consider themselves fortunate for facing a noble opponent like Saudi Arabia, said Saudi Arabia’s Al Yaum.

“If the Houthis and Saleh’s forces were going up against any other opponent, the situation would have been different, because any other force beside Saudi Arabia would not have cared whether the people voluntarily accepted or rejected the Houthi’s control over the lands. Any other force would have thought the people must bear the consequences and destruction of war or opt to wield their guns and combat the ones responsible for dragging the country into a war.Saudi Arabia, however, is adamant on ensuring that the war results in minimum losses, and that is why Saudi Arabia and its allies are very careful to not harm any civilians. In this context, it is worth noting the prominent humanitarian role played by the King Salman Humanitarian and Relief Centre, which spent 1.5 billion Saudi Riyals on relief items distributed in all Yemeni cities and governorates.”

Following numerous attempts by Houthis and Saleh’s forces to impede Yemeni negotiations, it seems that they are now ready to implement UN Security Council resolution which stipulates that they must disarm and withdraw from seized territory, said the London-based Pan-Arab paper Al Quds Al Arabi.

“The Houthis and Saleh’s forces alliance with Iran is what led to the aggressive response from the Gulf and Arab nations, which resulted in a new regional and global equilibrium after Moscow gave its approval for UN Resolution 2216. Yemen has paid dearly for its dream of freedom, and despite the fact that the adversaries of Arabs have conspired against the country. However, there is a light looming at the end of this long, dark tunnel.