Archived material Access restricted Article
Rantburg

Today's Front Page   View All of Thu 03/26/2015 View Wed 03/25/2015 View Tue 03/24/2015 View Mon 03/23/2015 View Sun 03/22/2015 View Sat 03/21/2015 View Fri 03/20/2015
1
2015-03-26 Arabia
Saudis announce onset of military intervention in Yemen
Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.
Posted by Fred 2015-03-26 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11131 views ]  Top
 File under: Houthis 

#1 Shouldn't be a surprise. I said the other day, that the Saudis can't have Iranian backed shiias in control in their front and back yards.

The next issue is whether the Iran responds in the Gulf, Bahrain? the Omani enclave on the Straits of Hormuz?
Posted by phil_b 2015-03-26 01:21||   2015-03-26 01:21|| Front Page Top

#2 Phil if it ends up Iran vs Saudi ... Israel could observe or sneak in a raid or two here and there.
Posted by 3dc 2015-03-26 01:38||   2015-03-26 01:38|| Front Page Top

#3 3dc, if this spills out of Yemen. It will go hot quickly, and any Israeli action against Iran could well be moot, as others will be bombing Iran.
Posted by phil_b 2015-03-26 02:44||   2015-03-26 02:44|| Front Page Top

#4 As per FREEREPUBLIC, the Saudis are repor committing 100 aircraft + 150,000 troops to Yemen.
Other Net Blogs repor that Egypt, Morocco, + Nuke-armed Pakistan will join the KSA-led Coalition.

* SPUTNIKE NEWS > HOUTHIS VOW TO FIGHT BACK IN YEMEN [agz KSA + Gulf Arab Allies] WID ALL MEANS AVAILABLE - OFFICIAL.

Senior Houthi Official MOHAMMED AL-BUKTAITHI.

VERSUS

* JAPAN TIMES > YEMEN LEADER'S FALL IS BLOW TO US [POTUS Obama = Counter-Terror strategy collapse], AS EMBASSY CLOSURE AND TROOPS PULLOUT DAMAGE OPERATION AGZ AL-QAIDA.

* TOPIX > US MILITARY OFFICIALS FEAR IRAN MILITIAS COULD [turn on +] ATTACK US TROOPS IN IRAQ.

This was before the KSA began their Yemen MilOp - prolly safe to say the USDOD is more nervousy twitchy now and walking a much thinner tightrope as its two ME BFFS KSA + IRAN MILPOL FACE OFF AGZ ONE ANOTHER.

NOT A GOOD SIGN FOR CHINA-VS-JAPAN IN EAST ASIA.
Posted by JosephMendiola 2015-03-26 02:58||   2015-03-26 02:58|| Front Page Top

#5 Egyptian friends are reporting on Facebook that President al Sisi is sending Egyptian forces to participate alongside the Saudis, and that Iran has forces in Eritrea. Interesting times just got more interesting.
Posted by trailing wife 2015-03-26 05:08||   2015-03-26 05:08|| Front Page Top

#6 Phil, agree, I said similar things over the last couple of days.

This is another, and potentially the biggest, failure of Obama's world view and "smart" diplomacy. What happens now to his Iranio-centric strategy?

How far will he back the Shiia vs. the Sunni?
I know he bowed to the King of SA, but that was then. How close to WWIII will we get this time, and would this be his excuse to totally abrogate the constitution?

I'm too old to want to live in "interesting" times.
Posted by AlanC 2015-03-26 07:42||   2015-03-26 07:42|| Front Page Top

#7 Appears to be boiling down to a Sunni vs, Shia conflict. I don't think we have any allies in that mix. Saudis don't seem too interested in ISIS or AQ; other players in Yemen. The mess/failure in the Mideast and North Africa will be Obama's legacy along with all the others messes/failures. He's really not good at this--far worse than Carter or Harding.
Posted by JohnQC 2015-03-26 08:14||   2015-03-26 08:14|| Front Page Top

#8 Cheap gasoline could go away in a hurry.
Posted by Glenmore 2015-03-26 08:20||   2015-03-26 08:20|| Front Page Top

#9 So, anyone for "Iran-Iraq" war, version 2.0?
May it be long, bloody, and contained to the combatants.
Posted by Nguard 2015-03-26 09:24||   2015-03-26 09:24|| Front Page Top

#10 #8 I'd watch that closely. America has an oversupply created by a law that prohibits/inhibits export, so there is no reason for international demand to effect the price at the pump less, of course, collusion by the Cronies of Washington.
Posted by Procopius2k 2015-03-26 10:33||   2015-03-26 10:33|| Front Page Top

#11 Obama saying anything?
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2015-03-26 10:47||   2015-03-26 10:47|| Front Page Top

#12 ^ "Fore!"
Posted by Frank G 2015-03-26 11:41||   2015-03-26 11:41|| Front Page Top

#13 As long as the Soods are getting their "expendables" from us, I think it's a Win-Win-Win.
Posted by  Hupineger Glomomp52169 2015-03-26 13:07||   2015-03-26 13:07|| Front Page Top

#14 So, WW III begins. Breakout the popcorn and Iodine tablets.
Posted by BrerRabbit 2015-03-26 14:32||   2015-03-26 14:32|| Front Page Top

#15 Should I be watching for Iran to start moving south in Iraq?

This situation is fraught............Zero really struck out here.
Posted by AlanC 2015-03-26 18:26||   2015-03-26 18:26|| Front Page Top

#16 Alan, I'd be looking for Iranian moves in the Horn of Africa.
Posted by Pappy 2015-03-26 18:41||   2015-03-26 18:41|| Front Page Top

#17 What about Iranian moves around Musandam Peninsula in Oman? I remember reading about suspected infiltration there by Iranian forces out of Bandar Abbas a year or so ago.
Posted by 3dc 2015-03-26 19:31||   2015-03-26 19:31|| Front Page Top

#18 What about Iranian moves around Musandam Peninsula in Oman?

It's possible, condor. It'd definitely put a crimp in access via Hormuz.

Given that the Sultan of Oman has been on a charm offensive with Iran probably due to Iran's actions (but who also has a small but highly professional military,) Iran may prefer to have Oman on the sidelines at this point.
Posted by Pappy 2015-03-26 20:35||   2015-03-26 20:35|| Front Page Top

#19 As per FREEREPUBLIC, Egyptian troops will be joining Saudi ground forces inside Yemen.

* Also ...
> IRAN = demanding an immediate halt to any + all Milactions in Yemen, espec agz the Houthis, LEST NECESSARY MEASURES BE FORCIBLY UNDERTAKEN BY IRAN.
> EGYPT = claims to had driven off Iranian naval vessels trying to enter the Port of Aden.
Posted by JosephMendiola 2015-03-26 22:42||   2015-03-26 22:42|| Front Page Top

23:49 JosephMendiola
23:39 KBK
23:21 OldSpook
23:19 OldSpook
23:15 3dc
23:11 Zenobia Floger6220
23:05 Zenobia Floger6220
22:51 European Conservative
22:42 JosephMendiola
22:37 JosephMendiola
22:11 Grunter
21:57 Thereting Poodle9228
21:49 Old Patriot
21:32 M. Report
21:30 Frank G
21:17 Procopius2k
20:56 Fred
20:56 Hupineger Glomomp52169
20:48 Alaska Paul
20:43 Pappy
20:35 Pappy
20:12 Hupineger Glomomp52169
20:05 Woodrow Stalin1308
19:58 trailing wife









Paypal:
Google
Search WWW Search rantburg.com