Brookings: Saudi Arabia’s War in Yemen

A journalist's murder in a Saudi diplomatic consulate raises questions about the country’s leadership, goals and methods in all areas. The Brookings Institution’s Daniel Byman and Michael O’Hanlon question how the United States might punish Saudi Arabia as both countries are “locked in a relationship” of mutual dependence. Punishment could range from temporary visa bans and canceling summits to ending arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Another US approach is discouraging Saudi attacks in Yemen. The war and blockades have contributed to humanitarian crisis for the country's 28 million people including cholera, famine and a death toll of about 50,000 including civilians. “Three years into the Saudi intervention, there is no longer any reasonable argument for believing that what the Saudis are doing will work,” the analysts write, adding that the United States is complicit in the war by supplying weapons along with intelligence and logistics support. Byman and O’Hanlon recommend more US conditions and oversight over Saudis actions in Yemen as well greater autonomy for Iranian-supported Houthi factions in northern Yemen, which would reduce fighting and reduce Iran’s influence. The US secretary of defense has called for a ceasefire. – YaleGlobal

Brookings: Saudi Arabia’s War in Yemen

The killing of a journalist in Saudi diplomatic offices raises questions about Saudi strategies in its war with Yemen – and the US calls for a ceasefire
Daniel L. Byman and Michael E. O’Hanlon
Friday, November 2, 2018

 

Read the article with recommendations for the US on its relationship with Saudi Arabia.

Daniel Byman is a senior fellow in the Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings, where his research focuses on counterterrorism and Middle East security. He previously served as the research director of the center. He is also senior associate dean for undergraduate affairs at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service and a professor in its Security Studies Program. His most recent book is Al Qaeda, the Islamic State, and the Global Jihadist Movement: What Everyone Needs to Know (Oxford University Press, 2015).

Michael O'Hanlon is a senior fellow in Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution, where he specializes in U.S. defense strategy, the use of military force, and American national security policy. He is also director of research for the Foreign Policy program at Brookings. He is an adjunct professor at Columbia, Princeton, and Syracuse universities and University of Denver. He is also a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies. O’Hanlon was a member of the external advisory board at the Central Intelligence Agency from 2011 to 2012. O’Hanlon’s latest book is The Future of Land Warfare (Brookings, 2015).

Read the article about the US call for a ceasefire in Yemen and a demand for UN peace talks within 30 days from BBC News.

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