Saudi Arabia’s Strategic Mistake

What is your assessment of Saudi Arabia’s attack against Yemen?

The era of classical ground wars has passed. These days, countries usually do not use these methods to reach their objectives. In the third millennium, using the military option is considered an out-of-date approach. In today’s world, no country benefits from aggression; Yemen is not an exception to this rule. I believe that in this war the Yemeni partisans would suffocate the orderly Saudi army to the extent that one day Saudi Arabia would ask the Islamic Republic of Iran for its help to resolve its problems. There has been no coup d’état in Yemen in order for Saudi Arabia to use that excuse to enter the scene. There has rather been a great popular revolution and the people must determine their destiny.

In other words, would you consider this issue to be related to Saudi Arabia’s resistance against Islamic awakenings in the region?

Yes. It was due to the Islamic Awakening that the people revolted against the Yemeni government and toppled its dictator who was a lackey of Saudi Arabia. People in all parts of this country support this revolution. Yemeni men are men of resistance and the youth believe in resistance and martyrdom. They are well aware of soft power. These people have resisted with empty hands and are trained in partisan wars. They will make life difficult for the Saudi army.

Why, in your opinion, have other countries entered this doomed attack?

Historically, Egypt has experienced defeat in Yemen. If Pakistan had ground power, it could maintain its borders with Afghanistan. In the course of history, the partisans have always won in wars against orderly armies. Israel was defeated in its 33-day war against southern Lebanon. The same will happen to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia’s army lacks counter-offensive power and its offensive power is run by foreign forces. A military organization could be considered as a superior power when it has both offensive and counter-offensive power.

What, in your opinion, will the result of Saudi Arabia’s military aggression against Yemen be?

Until now, Saudi Arabia has hesitated to enter the scene from the ground. Thus, it seems that it is well aware of such aggression. There have only been air strikes by Saudi Arabia and its allies against Yemen. If the same situation continues, then Saudi Arabia has only paid a price without having any achievement. The involvement of its ground force will also be costly for Saudi Arabia. Most experts believe that Saudi Arabia has made a strategic mistake. The era of hard power has ended even for the superpowers let alone for the rental Saudi army whose technology is imported and whose pilots and technical knowledge are rented. Saudi Arabia and its armed forces have mistaken Yemen with Bahrain which is considered as its own backyard.

Do you think that there is a plot to directly involve Saudi Arabia in the ground developments of the Middle East?

This does not seem impossible. It seems that despite the usual coordination between Saudi Arabia and the US, this time the US was not informed of this attack. The commander of the Middle East forces of the US army has stated that Saudi Arabia informed them of this attack when it was about to start. It seems that Kerry was not informed of this attack during his visit to Saudi Arabia either. But we all know that these are security issues and the security officials of the US were certainly informed of this measure. This war will impose heavy economic and political costs on Saudi Arabia.

What, in your opinion, is the solution to the Yemeni crisis?

The only solution is for the Yemenis to reach an understanding. Saudi Arabia must pursue its objectives within this framework. We support sustainable peace in Yemen and pursue our interests within this framework. The recent measures taken by Saudi Arabia will not benefit this country. The era of the superiority of hard power over soft power has passed and the Saudi regime would be entrapped in this historic downfall. There is no doubt that regional cooperation and arrangements could only be talked about when the other party understands the modern world. Although Saudi leaders are new in their job, they are stuck with the crisis of recognition. Saudi Arabia mistook tactical attack with a strategic one; the language of power is the language of dialogue and not the language of war and violence. The continuation of such measures will lead to the problem of legitimacy for the Saudi leaders. The aim of the army of the Islamic countries was to fight against Israel and not their Muslim neighbors.