Yemen’s government needs weapons, but they can’t come from the US or Israel, expert tells 'Post'
Though an expert from the Royal United Services Institute said that the Houthis needed to be defeated, he insisted this could only come about by empowering the legitimate government - not airstrikes.
An expert from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in the United Kingdom has advised that empowering Yemen's government forces is the most effective way to counter the Houthis and reverse their territorial gains. This support should not come from the United States or Israel, according to the expert, who spoke anonymously to protect his connections in Yemen.
The expert clarified that international forces need to approach the Yemeni conflict differently than the fight against al-Qaeda, emphasizing that it is not merely a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed groups, but a local conflict over domestic grievances. He also cautioned against viewing the war through an international lens, which could potentially benefit the Houthis by portraying them as defenders of the Yemeni people against foreign aggression.
Empowering local forces, according to the expert, goes beyond supplying weapons. It involves addressing the root causes of the conflict, such as the severe humanitarian crisis caused by deprivation, civil war, drought, and other natural disasters. The UNHRC has reported that more than 17.1 million Yemenis, including five million on the brink of famine, are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity.
The expert pointed to the city of Taiz as a recent example, noting that the city has once again become the front line of the war. The siege, which began in 2015, was designed to systematically deprive civilians, causing widespread suffering. Despite international truces diluting the impact of the siege in the past, the city is now surrounded by the Houthis, who have begun encircling it again.
The expert warned that without arms, the local authorities will be unable to counter the Houthi threat. He emphasized that while Israel and the United States share a common enemy with the internationally recognized government of Yemen's forces, they should not directly arm or fund the Houthis. Instead, their role should be limited to disrupting Iranian weapons shipments to the Houthis.
The expert warned that any more direct involvement could play into the Houthis' hands, as they have built much of their support by portraying themselves as defenders of Gaza.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
