Saudi Arabia and The Recent Triumph of Yemeni Houthis

In the last 10 years Shiite world has experience a great ascension. The US invasion of Iraq in 2002 tipped the balance of power in favor of Iraqi Shiites. Although the positions in the state were apportioned among the Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds in proportion to their population, but the Shiites held the most important posts in the newly established governments because of their majority in the country. Thus the Iraqi government predominantly comprised of Shiites. This was an alarm for Saudi Arabia. In his meeting with The United States’ authorities in 2005, Saudi foreign minister expressed his worries about what they called “delivering Iraq to Iran as a result of the United States invasion of Iraq”. From other side Israel could not dislodge Hizbullah, Iranian offshoot in Lebanon, in the 2006 war. Thus Hizbullah became stronger and its leader Hassan Nasrullah acquired a hero image in Arab public opinion. In addition, the alliance of West and Arab states including Saudi Arabia were not able to dispose Syrian president Bashar Assad- the only ally of Iran among Arab states- from power. He is determined to maintain the rule of minority Alawite in the country at all costs, even if on a part of it. All of these developments plus the restlessness in Bahrain, a very small country in the Gulf with majority of Shia population, and restlessness among Zaidi Shiites in Yemen made Sunni Arab leaders very anxious about the rising power of Iran in the region.

The Yemeni’s Houthis constitute almost on third of the population and belong to the Zaidi sect of Shia Islam (fiver). They have embroiled in a war with the government from 2004. Saudi Arabia became involved in this war. It helped the Yemeni’s government and fought against Houthis. But they could not oppress the Shiites’ uprising. Houthis even defeated Saudi’s army a few times. Recently they could capture the capital, San’a. The government had to act a peace treaty with them. According to this treaty they held some very important posts in the government and entered into the political scene of the country. They got access to Red Sea by capturing an important port – Hudayda- as well.

This was more serious alarm for Saudi Arabia from several facets. First, Saudi Arabia has its own Zaidi Shia community, right across the border, so Yemeni Houthis’ triumph could inspire them to stand up to Saudi’s discriminations. Moreover, there is a small Ismaili Shia (sevener) community in Najran, across the border in Saudi Arabia. And the most important impact of Houthis’ victory on the northern neighbor is fueling the restlessness of the twelver Shiites in the east of the country, where Saudi’s the most important oil reservoirs lay and recently has been the scene of restlessness of Shiites who demanding their civil rights. This is a nightmare for Saudi authorities.  Saudi Arabia is the largest oil producer and exporter in the world and its economy heavily depends on oil. The Houthis’ triumph could be a threat for the energy security policy of Saudi Arabia as well. Because of the Iranian threat in Persian/Arabian Gulf recently Saudi Arabia has been exporting its oil through Red Sea. Capturing the second most important port of Yemen on the Red Sea by Iran-backed Shia Houthis could be another potential threat source to the Saudi Arabia. It is a threat to Saudi’ energy security and its safe transportation to the Saudi’s oil customers.

Houthis’ presence in Yemeni’s government enables them to prevent the government takes part in the side of Saudis and take any action against Iran. With this victory of Houthis, Saudi Arabia see itself in siege of the Shiites- Houthis in the south, its own Shiites, Bahraini Shiites and Iran in the east, Iraq in the north east and Syria and Lebanon in the north. This is why immediately after capturing San’a by Houthis, the members of Gulf Cooperation Council held an emergency meeting in Jeddah- Saudi Red Sea port city to discuss the consequences of the deteriorating situation in Yemen.