Yemen Conflict Devolves Into Proxy War

“The conflict in Yemen is quickly devolving into a wider regional conflagration, pitting Shiite Iran and an allied militant group against Saudi Arabia and other Sunni Arab states that came together to launch airstrikes on those militants,” reports the Wall Street Journal. Saudi Arabia is bombing the Shiite-linked minority Houthis in Yemen, a country with 65 percent Sunni and 35 percent Shia. “Saudi Arabia said its campaign in Yemen was being conducted in tandem with Egypt and Gulf neighbors Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait. Morocco, Jordan, Pakistan, Sudan and Turkey, although not yet directly involved, indicated they would support operations against the Houthis.” The US has held back from intervention in Yemen, once a regional partner in the fight against extremism. The president of Yemen fled to Saudi Arabia, and the government is in shambles, leaving a vacuum for more extremism. Europe and the US are divided over whether a military response offers a solution. Arab nations are expected to organize a regional joint force, which could disrupt negotiations with Shiite Iran over its nuclear program. – YaleGlobal