Ground operation in Yemen may lead to long conflict - experts
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said earlier today that the military operation in Yemen will continue "until full stabilization" in the country. "We will continue protecting the legitimate government until we reach our aim - returning Yemen to stability, security and unity," he said, noting that a ground operation is also possible.
"The ground operation will not be effective, it will only lead to a prolonged conflict," senior research fellow at the department of political science at the Higher School of Economics Leonid Isaev said. "One can also expect negative consequences for those countries that are planning it," the expert added.
"Former Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi is to blame for what is going on in the country now," Isaev said. "He delivered a blow at himself by attempting to hold the comprehensive national dialogue out of Yemen's borders. By asking for military assistance from Riyadh, he lost all support," he added.
Experts also discussed the possibility of introducing economic sanctions against Yemen. "The people in Yemen are so poor that sanctions will be counter-productive and may anger them," head of the Center for Eastern Research at the Russian Foreign Ministry's Diplomatic Academy Oleg Peresypkin said.
Crisis in Yemen
Since August 2014, Yemen has been hit by a severe political and security crisis. In late January, the armed groups of Ansar Allah (Houthi rebels) forced the president and the government to announce resignation.
The rebels later took control of the country's capital and several northern provinces. They also announced the adoption of the so-called constitutional declaration.
Overnight to March 26, Saudi Arabia launched a military operation in the neighboring country and delivered air strikes at several Houthi positions.
Pro-government forces regained control of the Aden airport last week, while Yemeni President Abd Rabbah Mansur Hadi fled the country to Saudi Arabia, for full story go to Itar-tass.com .
