Decisive Storm





Decisive Storm

Muna Al-Fuzai - Kuwait Times

I have received a lot of questions from expatriates here about Operation Decisive Storm, wondering if it will end safely. This article today represents the information I have and also my personal opinion. Operation Decisive Storm is a military operation led by Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states including Kuwait to support the legitimacy of Yemen and stop the aggression of the Houthi militants and their ally Ali Abdullah Saleh - and their biggest supporter Iran.

There is no doubt that the Gulf states are passing through a difficult and ambiguous phase these days, and is not easy to predict its repercussions, especially since this confrontation is between strong opponents. I believe it is a necessity required by interests, especially defending and protecting maritime traffic lanes against possible threats.

Saudi Arabia and its fellow Gulf states are never known as warmongering countries unless they are forced to do so. This operation is essential to defend oil interests, sovereignty and security interests, doctrines and maybe survival. Even some of these reasons are enough for any state to take a decision to defend its borders, but all of these are believed to be involved.

I am well aware of the slogans that are echoed by some media and political parties and even individuals on social media about fear and suspicion of dragging the region into a war with Iran, as the Houthis are Shiites and are doing a major service to Iran by controlling the Bab el Mandeb Sea in Yemen, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. It is an elixir of life for the Gulf states. Silence over the Houthis' actions would mean depriving the Gulf states from an oil passage, which is unacceptable and dangerous. This alone is enough reason for war.

I am in favor of Operation Decisive Storm, although it came a little late. We have to stop depicting this operation as an act of killing and remember that the world has fought world wars for peace. The Gulf itself has fought several wars and Iran itself has fought a long war with Iraq. So everyone has to pull off the mask of innocence because peace has a hefty price tag.

We have to support the decision of HH the Amir of Kuwait to join this operation in these sensitive and difficult circumstances, because Kuwait and the region is a target for terror and defending it is a must. Operation Decisive Storm is a war against terrorism, which is no different from the wars against Daesh or Al-Qaeda. The war against the Houthis was not a surprise or came out of the blue. In fact, Saudi Arabia had invited the Houthis for talks in Riyadh, but they refused peace.

It is natural that the region will face a lot of surprises by some persons or parties here in favor of their own agendas. The Kuwaiti interior ministry has boosted security measures, which is required and is very important to maintain calm and internal security.

Operation Decisive Storm has the support of the Arab and the international community, and the United States has expressed its support, which is a smart act and a message to Russia and Iran. The Saudi intervention has halted the advance of the Houthis and their allies in the east and south, and Yemen has a new opportunity to regain its strength and unity. The Houthis are now facing two solutions - either return to national dialogue, or face an international coalition waging a relentless war until they are ousted. The latter seems probable. In the end, things will be okay.

By Muna Al-Fuzai

[email protected]


 














Copyright 2007 mideast-times.com