Saudi Arabia seeks sectarianism in Yemen: Commentator

Press TV has interviewed Naseer al-Omari, a writer and political commentator in New York, to discuss the remarks made by a senior member of Yemen’s Houthi Ansarullah movement, saying the Yemeni side has now gained the upper hand nearly 10 months into the Saudi war on the country.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: What do you think about this story, a 10-month long aggression without a UN mandate against the population of Yemen, Arab’s poorest country, and now we are hearing from this official saying the balance of power has tipped in favor of the Yemeni side?

Omari: Yes as it should, because the Yemenis are fighting on their own soil. You cannot occupy a country especially a country like Yemen with its long tradition and history of fighting...It is impossible for the Saudis to dictate to the Yemenis. There is one solution to the Yemeni problem and that is for all factions to return to the negotiating table. There are no winners in Yemen in this war and to be honest with you the Saudi agenda in Yemen is suspicious. It has brought with it a sense of sectarianism. The Yemeni people who are not known for sectarian sentiments and sectarian political stances, all of a sudden the country is divided into Shias versus Sunnis, and this is thanks to the Saudis who have brought the sense to Yemen and to the rest of the Middle East. 

Press TV: We are talking about a Sunni-Shia strife in the country. We are also hearing about al-Qaeda and ISIL strengthening their presence in the country, damage to infrastructure, over 7,500 people dead. What has the Saudi achieved in Yemen?

Omari: That is exactly what it is set out to achieve. It wanted to turn Yemen into a place that will not be hospitable to the Iranians from their perspective and therefore the best thing to do is to turn it al-Qaeda because that will guarantee a civil war in Yemen.

This is what they did in Syria. There is evidence that they did that in Iraq, too. This is a regime in Saudi Arabia that has utilized sectarianism to remain in power, to keep the status quo. It is responsible for ending the Arab Spring with the promise of freedom. The world needs to open its eyes and see that the Saudi regime is really a sponsor of terrorism not just in Yemen but in Syria and Iraq and across the Muslim world and the world.

Press TV: And with the advances made by the Yemeni army and the allied army units, do you think there is a possibility that Saudi Arabia will retreat from Yemen?

Omari: My feeling is that they are not going to take this war for a very long time because there is no winner in this war. They are not winning. They are not accomplishing any of their goals. Now they are face to face with the natives of Yemen. So how are you going to put a government together when you are viewed as the enemy?

So Saudi Arabia will never sponsor a peace process in Yemen, we know that. We know that they are actually in conflict with a big portion of the Yemeni people so they will do what they have done in other countries. They will basically leave al-Qaeda and terrorism stronger than what it was, and unfortunately they are living behind the worst humanitarian crisis in the world now. So unfortunately the Yemeni people will have to endure many, many years of suffering because of this Saudi intervention.  

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