Washington Institute of Near East Policy raised concerns about any deal between Sana’a and Riyadh, saying it would leave Yemen in the hands of Houthis, which is a painful thing.
An analysis prepared by Simon Henderson, a researcher at the Institute, said that the agreement would allow the Saudis to disengage from a costly and intractable war, but would at the same time bring Yemen under the control of Houthis.
The researcher Henderson referred to what was published by the Economist magazine about the possibility of signing an agreement between Sana’a and Riyadh in the coming days. Pointing out that what Riyadh is apparently looking for is “assurances that Houthis will stop dropping drones and missiles across the border.”
The institute’s report considered that any imminent agreement would be tantamount to an admission of defeat for Saudi Arabia, and would also be a painful result from other strategic aspects, it would leave Yemen in the hands of Houthis – whose official cry prominently reads “Death to America, Death to Israel, Damn the Jews”.
The researcher called on Washington to evaluate how the deal could affect what he described as efforts to limit Iran’s hostile influence, explaining that the missiles that Houthis possess are close to striking the southern Israel.
The researcher said that Houthi movement has grown to become more effective, threatening Gulf States, Israel, and the vital Bab al-Mandab Strait between Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, among other goals.
The researcher calls for any agreement to include reducing ties between Sana’a and Tehran.
