By: Mustafa Bahran Opinions are those of the author
Yemen is an ancient country whose history is not well known in the West. It is also one of the most beautiful countries on this planet. It has diverse natural wonders; a rich culture; pleasant climate; unique architecture, food, music, folklore; and very hospitable people among many other qualities.
The almost 6 years old war in Yemen has produced one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in the world, if not the worst. According to the WFP, about 20 million are facing hunger and 24 million need assistance, in a country of about 30 million people. All parties to this ugly war have committed atrocities and responsible for catastrophe.
The war must end via political settlement as no military solution is insight while the human toll is mounting. The international community has understood this for some time and has been calling for peace in support of the UN envoy efforts. The problem is, although the US, for example, has a great leverage over the legitimate Yemeni government and its allies; namely the coalition governments lead by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, it has no leverage whatsoever over the Houthies and their allies; namely Iran and Hizballah (party of God) of Lebanon. At the same time, the Houthies have the biggest appetite for war and its current offensive on the city of Marib with about one million refugees is a manifestation of that.
Instead of taking a stance against the war early on, the Trump administration designated the Huthies as a terror group days before it left the White House. Doing that created an outcry by international organizations fearing for the fate of humanitarian efforts helping Yemenis as well as effecting the push for peace negotiations. That decision was not well studied. It was a hastened mistake. Immediately and after assuming office, the Biden administration announced that it intended to undo the Trump order, and indeed has overturned it. This decision was a hastened mistake as well. Two mistakes have taken place back to pack!
The Houthies ideology centers around a narrow and racist interpretation of Islam believing that they have a divine right to rule not just Yemen but the entire universe being the rightful descendants of prophet Mohamed. Their doctrine is to achieve rule by the sword which makes them terroristic by definition. Nonetheless, they are no ISIS, at least for the time being because the only terror they inflict is within Yemen which means they are not a threat to the rest of the world apart from the GCC. The objection over designating them is based on humanitarian as well as peace efforts grounds (the need to negotiate with them to end the war). It seemed logical that since the designation had already been done, the Biden administration had an excellent opportunity to use it as a leverage to bring about peace. Instead, it surrendered a tool that was in hand. The Houthies will only accept peace if it guarantees their dominance. Without leverage, nobody can force them otherwise. Short of a new deal with Iran that includes concessions on Yemen, the Trump administration designation had provided significant leverage, indeed an opportunity the Biden administration has now lost. Yet, what has been done is done. The US seems interested in bringing about peace in Yemen, and for that it must find new tools to pressurize the Houthies since other parties to the conflict are within its influence. As we hope and pray for peace we realize without tools to help peace happen things do not look good!
In 1893, British journalist Walter B. Harris published an account of his travels into the mountainous interior of Yemen. “Nothing can be imagined more beautiful than the scenery of the mountains of the Yemen,” he wrote. “Rich green valleys … are so luxuriant, so verdant, that one’s ideas as to the nature of Arabia are entirely upset. Well known as is, and always has been, the fertility of this region, its extent is almost startling, and it can little be wondered at that Alexander the Great intended, after his conquest of India, to take up his abode in the Yemen.”
If this ugly war does not stop, I am afraid Yemen as a whole will be buried alongside its ancient history.