Saudis' Regional Standing in Tatters after Humiliating Defeat in Yemen: Iranian MP
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Saudi Arabia suffered a humiliating defeat in the military campaign on Yemen after major regional countries left it alone in the war, an Iranian lawmaker said, adding that the failed offensive left Riyadh's regional position in tatters.
"Saudi Arabia seriously lost its position by taking this wrong measure (of attacking Yemen), and the vigilance of other countries, including Pakistan and Turkey, in refusing to accompany the Saudis forced this country (Saudi Arabia) to go to war alone and leave it disgraced," Esmail Kowsari, member of the parliament's national security and foreign policy commission, told Tasnim on Saturday.
Saudi Arabia's new king, Salman, launched the war on Yemen to demonstrate his monarchy's power, but suffered a defeat in the worst possible way, the Iranian MP added.
Kowsari also warned that Saudi Arabia will totally lose its regional standing should it stick to its current approach.
Saudi Arabia and some of its Arab allies launched a military campaign against Yemen on March 26. The coalition's justification for the air strikes against the Houthi Ansarullah movement was to restore power to fugitive Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, a close ally of Riyadh.
Later on April 21, the Saudis declared a halt to the month-long air campaign. But hours later, they restarted their deadly airstrikes that medical and relief organizations said were killing hundreds of civilians.
Over 1,500 people have been killed since the bombing campaign began, while more than 150,000 have been displaced.