Saudi Arabia ends Yemen air campaign - Operation Restoring Hope started

[Al Bhatti]

April 21 2015

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz, then Governor of Riyadh, hold swords on a visit to King Abdul Aziz Historical Centre in Riyadh February 12, 2007.

Russia's Vladimir Putin Extends Invitation To Saudi King Salman: Report

Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly invited Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz to Russia when the leaders discussed the Yemen crisis during a phone call. Putin pledged that Russia would cooperate more closely with Saudi Arabia in the Middle East, the Kremlin said in a statement on Monday, according to Bloomberg.

Relations between the two countries had soured over conflicts in Syria and Yemen. Moscow has been critical of Saudi-led airstrikes against the Houthi rebels who hold power in large parts of Yemen. Russia is a key ally of Iran, which has been accused by Saudi Arabia of providing weapons and training to the Houthis. Iran, however, denies the allegations. Last week, Russia decided to resume supplies of its advanced S-300 anti-air missiles to Tehran.

King Abdulaziz also thanked Putin for Russia’s decision to abstain from a United States Security Council vote that called to impose an arms embargo on the embattled Houthis, prohibiting the sale of weapons to its leaders, the Bloomberg reported, citing the statement.

If Saudi Arabia accepts the Russian invitation, King Abdulaziz would be the first leader of the kingdom to visit Russia. Putin himself made the first official visit by a Russian leader to Saudi Arabia in 2007, where he reportedly discussed regional tensions in Iraq and Palestine with former King Abdullah.

Relations between Saudi Arabia and Russia have been strained by events in the Middle East since the outbreak of the Syrian conflict in 2011. U.S. ally Saudi Arabia has called for the removal of Syrian President Bashar Assad, while Russia has supported his regime both diplomatically and through direct military aid.

The diplomatic tension between the world’s two biggest energy exporters has also been suggested as a reason for low oil prices. Observers have speculated that Saudi Arabia may be using its massive oil reserves to flood the market and keep prices low in an effort to weaken Moscow’s grip on the market. “If oil can serve to bring peace in Syria, I don’t see how Saudi Arabia would back away from trying to reach a deal,” a Saudi diplomat told the New York Times in February.

However, Saudi Arabia’s key ally Egypt has also been courting favor with Russia in recent years, after the government of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi began warming its relations with Moscow since taking power last year.

Russia's Vladimir Putin Extends Invitation To Saudi King Salman: Report

 

[Maira La]

After this laughable fiasco, Saudi military should change its uniform to abaya. This will better suite them:

I don't think Saudis will appreciate your sense of humor.

 

[Hack-Hook]

half a month ago said that it's going to happen and then Saudi guys here going to claim victory just like what Israel did

KSA will achieve exactly what Israel achieved by (nearly) carpet bombing of Gaza .
they will get tired or ran out of bombs .and I'm nearly certain this time NATO wont restock KSA weapon caches from their reserve ammunition in Europe for free .

but I doubt KSA admits any failure just like what Israel did they announce victory over Houtis and wrap the operation up.

and funny part is that our dear @azzo answered me

Israel didn't have a +10 countries' allied with it.

 

[Daneshmand]

I don't think Saudis will appreciate your sense of humor.

That is true actually.

 

[SHAHED]

Hahahaha . This is amazing . Just the rumors of Iran sending its naval ships ends the "decisive storm" operation .

Goddamn how decisive that operation was ! none of the goals were reached . houthis are armed to teeth,they control all major cities and areas,they are still advancing and they're even reaching a political understanding with their opponents . killing innocent civilians did NOT help you .

 

[بلندر]

Sorry to burst your bubble lol phase 2 now starts with more houthis to die.

Houthi Air Force eliminated.
Ballistic missile threat eliminated.
threat to Aden eliminated

Yemen Army air force ...
Ballistic missiles were belong to Yemen Army ....
Aden still is there and Houthi can march toward it again
............

simply Saudis just strengthen Houthis stand in Yemen by destroying Yemen Army arsenals .... and now , Houthi can blame KSA for everything ...

The Houthis didint have any pilot nor any technicians to operate Yemen is Fighter jets and those Ballistic missiles ....

and Houthi didn't fell in their trap and didn't attack KSA , so KSA couldn't play their dirty game with sunnis " OH Rafidhi are attacking holly land ... "

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

Yeah, let's see what happens, I'll make a bet with you right here right now. Houthis are going to be more severely targeted now, and you will cry some more here. If tomorrow there are no bombings what so ever, I will leave this forum forever and never post here again. And if there is and you start crying here again. You give up being a mod, how does that sound?

No need to leave:

Yemen conflict: Saudi-led coalition resumes air strikes - BBC News

Hahahaha . This is amazing . Just the rumors of Iran sending its naval ships ends the "decisive storm" operation .

Goddamn how decisive that operation was ! none of the goals were reached . houthis are armed to teeth,they control all major cities and areas,they are still advancing and they're even reaching a political understanding with their opponents . killing innocent civilians did NOT help you .

Actually all the goals were achieved. It's much more successful than any Israeli campaign, not only because all trgets were precisely destroyed and objectives achieved but also the catualties rate is 1 Saudi=100 Huthis.

 

[Madali]

No need to leave:

Yemen conflict: Saudi-led coalition resumes air strikes - BBC News


Actually all the goals were achieved. It's much more successful than any Israeli campaign, not only because all trgets were precisely destroyed and objectives achieved but also the catualties rate is 1 Saudi=100 Huthis.

The goals were Houthis unconditional surrender, Houthis leaving territories, Houthis give up arms, Hadi being reinstated. We didn't say this, your guys said this from day 1.

Now the objectives have suddenly changed. If Saudis said from day 1 that the objective was to bomb schools and kill 1000s of civilians, then you could have proudly talked about Mission Accomplished.

The rest of the world knows this. From Financial Times,

"Riyadh said its aerial campaign had prevented a “takeover” by the Houthi militia and its allies, neutralising most of their military capabilities and destroying strategic stockpiles of long-range missiles that would have allowed the Houthi-Saleh coalition to launch attacks on Yemen neighbours.


That achievement was more limited than the objectives laid out when the campaign began in late March. Riyadh had said then that the campaign would end when the Houthis had laid down arms, withdrawn from territory and when Mr Hadi was reinstated as president."


This is what the Saudis said A DAY BEFORE they said that they "achieved their objectives",

"The minister said Yemen’s exiled government will not accept negotiations unless the Houthis and pro-Saleh forces lay down arms.


“The Houthis and Saleh forces must withdraw from all cities and villages of Yemen, including Sanaa and Aden, return to (their northern stronghold of) Saada as civilians, and lay down their arms,” Yassin said.


“After that we can talk about dialogue and a political solution. But now there is no room for negotiations,” he said."

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

The goals were Houthis unconditional surrender, Houthis leaving territories, Houthis give up arms, Hadi being reinstated. We didn't say this, your guys said this from day 1.

Phase 1, Decisive Storm is over, but the war is not, this is phase 2. Huthis contacted Hadi and begged for cease fire and they will submit and sit on the table. Phase 2 is there to force Huthis to get in line in the negotiations.

Now the objectives have suddenly changed. If Saudis said from day 1 that the objective was to bomb schools and kill 1000s of civilians, then you could have proudly talked about Mission Accomplished.

They're not changed, and again the war is not over.

The definition of impotency:

List of countries by military expenditures - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


World Military Budgets 2015 by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute

Rank Country Spending ($ Bn.)

1 United States 581.0
2 China 129.4
3 Saudi Arabia 80.8
4 Russia 70.0
5 United Kingdom 61.8
6 France 53.1
7 Japan 47.7

Iranians trying to restore the little of what is left of their dignity through lies. Again, your brothers are still being roasted:

Yemen conflict: Saudi-led coalition resumes air strikes - BBC News

And again Decisive Storm Operation was 100% successful. All your dear brothers assets were wiped out, hundreds of them killed, Iranians heads were brought down, they couldn't do anything to help their bereaved brothers from Wahabis. That's what's called ultimate humiliation.

 

[Madali]

Saudis obviously don't want the **** they are doing.

From your own article,

"Saudi diplomatic sources told BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen, who is in Jeddah, that the air strikes had resumed because the Houthis "broke a promise" in Taiz."

"The Saudi diplomatic sources said an agreement was being finalised with the Houthis. If the deal is made, making it stick will be hard, our correspondent adds."

So what is this? First two days back your guys said, "The minister said Yemen’s exiled government will not accept negotiations unless the Houthis and pro-Saleh forces lay down arms" and now the article you yourself posted said that " agreement was being finalised with the Houthis."

But since they haven't laid their arms or left the territories or Hadi isn't back, why are they even talking with the Houthis?

 

[Madali]

--------

From NYTimes,

"Secretary of State John Kerry has spoken to the Saudi government repeatedly over the past several days, and John O. Brennan, the C.I.A. director, visited the Saudi capital, Riyadh. A senior American official said Tuesday that there had been a number of discussions in recent days among American, Saudi and United Arab Emirates officials about ending the bombing campaign.

Asked why, the American official said, “Too much collateral damage.”

It's an upside down world where the AMERICANS are more worried about collateral damage against Arabs than KSA and their buddies.

"The day after Saudi Arabia said it was ending its campaign of airstrikes on Yemen, the US issued a statement starting:

"The United States welcomes the decision by the Government of Saudi Arabia and its coalition partners to conclude Operation Decisive Storm in Yemen. With this announcement, we look forward to a shift from military operations to the rapid, unconditional resumption of all-party negotiations that allow Yemen to resume an inclusive political transition process as envisioned in the GCC Initiative, the National Dialogue outcomes, and relevant UN Security Council resolutions. We also welcome the United Nations continuing to play a vital role in facilitating the political talks and look forward to the United Nations announcing a location for the talks in the very near future."

 

[Wahhab2701]

Wish law and order could be restored in Yemen.

 

[Cyberian]

Exactly when was the last time the Iranian Air Force flew it's obsolete fighter aircrafts outside its own airspace?

 

[Irfan Baloch]

dear both
@Daneshmand @Mosamania
I urge you both to restrain yourselves

you guys are articulate dont let your mutual differences get better of you

If starting another stage of the operations after the success of the first one is called failing in your books. Anyways I am done talking to children today. Your reluctance to take the bet shows that you don't even believe your own lies here.

Exactly when was the last time the Iranian Air Force flew it's obsolete fighter aircrafts outside its own airspace?

harsh but valid question

by the way neither did Pakistan air force but during late 80s it did engage jets flown by Soviets and their communist Afghan allies.

 

[Hasbara Buster]

Iran Warned Houthis Against Yemen Takeover

By Ali Watkins, Ryan Grim and Akbar Shahid Ahmed

April 21, 2015 "Information Clearing House" - "HP" -WASHINGTON -- Iranian representatives discouraged Houthi rebels from taking the Yemeni capital of Sanaa last year, according to American officials familiar with intelligence around the insurgent takeover.

The seizure of the capital in September came as a surprise to the international community, as Houthi rebels demonstrating outside Sanaa realized the city was abandoned and effectively unguarded. Despite Iran's advice, the Houthis walked into the city and claimed it.

The newly disclosed information casts further doubt on claims that the rebels are a proxy group fighting on behalf of Iran, suggesting that the link between Iran and the Yemeni Shiite group may not be as strong as congressional hawks and foreign powers urging U.S. intervention in Yemen have asserted.

U.S. lawmakers and Gulf state leaders who are skeptical of the nuclear negotiations with Iran have pointed to the Houthis' rise to power in Yemen as more evidence of Iran's unhelpful expansionary objectives in the region. But the news that Iran actually opposed the takeover paints a more complicated picture. As the regime in Tehran has signaled, the Iranians are not unhappy to see their Gulf rivals embroiled in conflict in their neighborhood, but their advice against seizing Sanaa suggests that controlling Yemen is at best a secondary priority for Iran, far behind relief from sanctions that could come with a successful nuclear pact.

On the other hand, the revelation that the Houthis directly disobeyed Iran gives credibility to the White House's argument that Iran is not directing the rebels, who follow a different branch of Shiite Islam than Iran's leaders and are believed to care more about corruption and the distribution of power in Yemen than the spread of Shiite influence across the Middle East.

"It remains our assessment that Iran does not exert command and control over the Houthis in Yemen," Bernadette Meehan, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, told The Huffington Post.

U.S. intelligence officials have warned for months that Yemen’s chaos is a civil war, not a battleground for regional conflict between Iran and the Sunni-ruled Gulf states. They continue to challenge the narrative pushed by Sunni nations, led by Saudi Arabia, who have blasted the Houthi surge and accused the U.S. of abandoning Yemen to a greedy Iran.

"It is wrong to think of the Houthis as a proxy force for Iran,” a U.S. intelligence official told The Huffington Post.
The Obama administration has recently found itself under renewed pressure to accept the Gulf narrative about the Houthi-Iran connection. In March, the Gulf Cooperation Council -- which comprises Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman -- made clear that it would act based on that understanding when it began launching airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. The Saudi-led intervention began just days before a vital deadline for the international diplomatic effort to rein in Iran’s nuclear program, and analysts interpreted it as a warning: Even as Sunni Arabs publicly expressed cautious support for a nuclear deal with Iran, they showed they would not shy away from confronting what they see as Iranian expansionism in the Middle East.

Iran has long provided military and financial support to the Houthi group, both before and after the rebels took over Sanaa -- though the exact extent of that support remains unknown. The Houthis have said they expect to receive Iranian gasoline and electricity generators to replace supplies once provided by Saudi Arabia and the West.
While that material support is seen as critical to the rebels’ successes, U.S. officials suspect that Tehran’s influence over the group is limited to the provision of resources. Senior administration officials have said the U.S. is aware of Iran's channel of support to the Houthis, and have cautioned the regime against its continued enabling of the rebel group.

The Iranian government has condemned the Saudi-led offensive against the Houthis, which has done little to allay suspicions that Yemen is the latest grab in Iran's quest for regional power. Still, Iran publicly insists it does not support any foreign intervention in Yemen.

As Yemen has descended further into chaos, Washington has also quietly backed its Gulf allies in their campaign against the Houthis, offering logistical, material and intelligence support. U.S. Navy officials say the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt is steaming toward the waters off Yemen and will join other American ships prepared to intercept any Iranian vessels carrying weapons to the Houthi rebels fighting in Yemen. The Navy has been beefing up its presence in the Gulf of Aden and the southern Arabian Sea amid reports that a convoy of Iranian ships may be headed toward Yemen to arm the Houthis.

The White House is now preparing to make its most significant outreach to Iran skeptics in the region. On May 13 and 14, President Barack Obama will host Gulf leaders in Washington and Camp David. He is expected to announce a ramped-up U.S. security commitment to the Gulf states that, according to U.S. and Gulf diplomats who spoke with regional outlet The National, could take the shape of a NATO-style defense treaty, a nuclear security umbrella, a non-binding declaration or a promise for greater tactical cooperation. The president is meeting on Monday with a top leader from the U.A.E, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed.

 Iran Warned Houthis Against Yemen Takeover : Â
Information Clearing House - ICH