\u2018Stuck in a swamp\u2019
\nHopes of lasting peace remain thin despite improvement in Saudi-Iran ties
\n DUBAI
\nEight years after launching its military campaign in Yemen, Saudi Arabia wants to extricate itself from the conflict, despite slim hopes of lasting peace, to focus on ambitious projects at home.
\nThe oil-rich monarchy gave a signal this month by announcing plans to resume ties with Iran, which backs Yemen\u2019s Huthi rebels against the Saudi-supported government in a proxy war.
\nBut as Saudi Arabia instigates sweeping social and economic changes as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman\u2019s \u201cVision 2030\u201d reform, it \u201cis seeking to shift its approach in Yemen from a military strategy to a soft security and political one\u201d, said Ahmed Nagi, from the International Crisis Group.
\nSince the Saudi-led military intervention began on March 26, 2015, the kingdom has pounded its impoverished neighbour with air strikes in a conflict that has triggered one of the world\u2019s worst humanitarian crises, according to the United Nations.
\nHundreds of thousands of people have been killed through direct and indirect causes, with 4.5 million people internally displaced and more than two-thirds of the population living below the poverty line, according to UN estimates.
\nNagi said that \u201cmilitary operations, such as air strikes\u201d are now likely to cease, adding that the priority now is a \u201cdiplomatic solution\u201d.
\nThe Saudi-led intervention, which marks its eighth anniversary on Sunday, came after the Huthis took control of the capital Sanaa in 2014.
\nA UN-brokered ceasefire that took effect last April brought a sharp reduction in hostilities. Even though the truce expired in October, fighting has largely remained on hold.
\nEven before the truce, Saudi Arabia and the Huthis were engaging in back-channel negotiations, including talks in neutral neighbour Oman.
\nRiyadh\u2019s top priority is securing border areas and stopping the drone and missile attacks that have targeted its all-important oil facilities, analysts say.
\n\u201cSaudi is currently negotiating with the Huthis to establish understandings that would enable it to secure its borderlands while maintaining influence\u201d in areas controlled by Yemen\u2019s government, Nagi said.
\n\u201cThis new approach could enable Saudi to remain the key actor in Yemen\u2019s domestic politics, to ensure that no security threats can affect the kingdom in case conflict continues at the local level,\u201d Nagi added.
\nThe Saudi-led intervention\u2019s stated aim was to protect civilians from Huthi attacks, restore the government and stop Yemen becoming a safe haven for Iranian-backed forces.
\nEight years in, the rebels control swathes of the country and command an impressive arsenal of weapons that they have used to attack Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, another coalition member.
\nFor Riyadh, the fallout jeopardises a rebranding project that aims to turn the conservative country into a hub for tourism and investment.
\nSaudi Arabia, relatively closed off for decades, is building a $500 billion futuristic new city, NEOM, and a swathe of holiday resorts and attractions.
\n\u201cThere is a huge focus in Saudi now on development, tourism, mega-projects,\u201d said an analyst following the negotiations between Riyadh and Huthi officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the press.
\nFor Riyadh, there is concern that \u201canything involving conflict\u201d will harm investment and stability, the analyst added. The unofficial talks with the Huthis are now maturing into a potential \u201cunderstanding\u201d that could pave the way for a slimmer Saudi military role ahead of a UN-sponsored inter-Yemeni dialogue, the analyst said.
\n\u201cThey want to go from some form of Saudi-Huthi understanding to being able to hand it over to a wider UN process,\u201d he said.
\nThe Saudis \u201cwant to wash their hands of the situation,\u201d and avoid responsibility for any future flare-ups, he added.
\nA Saudi official, also speaking anonymously, said the country \u201cwill not tolerate any threat to our security\u201d, noting it shares a long border with Yemen.
\n\u201cIran can and should play a major part in promoting this — and we hope it will,\u201d the official said, confirming negotiations with the Huthis aimed to revive UN-facilitated peace talks.
\n\u201cWe did see some progress of course, and we want to build on that progress to achieve lasting peace to open up for a political solution,\u201d the official said.
\nThe Saudis \u201cwant to wash their hands of the situation,\u201d and avoid responsibility for any future flare-ups, he added.
\nA Saudi official, also speaking anonymously, said the country \u201cwill not tolerate any threat to our security\u201d, noting it shares a long border with Yemen.
\n\u201cIran can and should play a major part in promoting this — and we hope it will,\u201d the official said, confirming negotiations with the Huthis aimed to revive UN-facilitated peace talks.
\n\u201cWe did see some progress of course, and we want to build on that progress to achieve lasting peace to open up for a political solution,\u201d the official said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2018Stuck in a swamp\u2019 Hopes of lasting peace remain thin despite improvement in Saudi-Iran ties DUBAI Eight years after launching its military campaign in Yemen, Saudi Arabia wants to extricate itself from the conflict, despite slim hopes of lasting peace, to focus on ambitious projects at home. The oil-rich monarchy gave a signal this month […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":321993,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-321970","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n