FOR THE YEMEN POST

Media and writers called them “Houthis”, and the name has stuck to them since 2004, though Abdulmalik Al-Houthi, leader of the group, refuses to accept this family-related name. Others named them “the group of Mukabreen”- an Arabic expression for fighters who repeatedly say “Allah is the greatest”. However two close persons to the group; Hassan Zaid the Secretary General of AlHaq Party and Osama Sari Journalist, described them as the “group of slogan” .
Yemeni observers believe that the country is dealing with a very mysterious group. They were described by Hassan Zaid in 2005 as a wise enemy against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (K.S.A) at worst. In result and four years later, “Houthis” a rebellious group; not yet a state, declared war on K.S.A.
The consequences of the war has been gradually transferred to K.S.A. on different stages; clashes in the southern Saudi borders, smuggling of two bombers into Saudi territories, the killing of Saudi workers, and Abdulmalik Al-Houthi’s accusation of K..S.A. of training separatist in southern Yemen.
Have Houthis reached such power to pose a permanent threat to the Saudi capital of Riyadh?
In contrast, Houthis, who are supposed to show good intentions towards K.S.A. to alleviates its worry did the opposite,…why?

Houthis Motive
First, Houthis want to keep the sixth war in Saada alive in the media and people’s memory. The second motive is that the war initiative will build confidence within the group’s followers about their ambitions and strength and build the trust in the part of their supporters, like Iran.

Accounts
Intelligence reports suggested to Houthis that short and strong attacks inside Saudi lands is the best way to prevent any Saudi interference in the war and force them to sit on the negotiation table. Also, Houthis believed that Saudi will not get involved in a direct war for it bears bad consequences for them, because Houthis are fighting a guerilla war and not an organized war.

Stances
There are regional beneficiaries who seek benefits from an extended war near the southern Saudi borders. This caused confusion and shock to the Kingdom, and convinced the Saudi authority to raise its support to the Yemeni government. This is why Houthis use all possible ways to extend the war in the Saudi borders.

Tehran Stance
It has not been a secret that Iran is associated with the crisis in Saada. Its historical dimensions; the Persian existence before Islam, the strategic location of Yemen in the regional waters, all, besides a contrary policy with K.S.A. are encouraging motives for Iran to exist in Yemen.
However, there is a direct Iranian existence through warships and training of Houthi rebels in Eretria, according to Eritrean opposition members, and also indirect extension inside the country.
All incidents indicate that Iran has deeply been involved in Yemen. It signed more than 80 agreements, some security, with the Yemeni government. The agreement of operating Marib gas plant bears indications of mysterious Iranian-Yemeni relations.
In sum, Eretria and its President Aforki have made of Eretria a center for Iranian, American and Qaeda existence and Yemen has been a battlefield of Saudi-Iranian and Iranian-Western clashes. This means that Yemen is the first and only loser in this struggle.

Washington Stance
There are two theories that describe Washington’s stance on the war extension inside Saudi borders. The first says it is one of Washington’s objectives in the region. This is clear from the U.S. previous treatment of regional issues. It uses a plan of double-roles. In one part, it intends to start a war against Iran and eliminate a strong force that threatens its interests in the region. Second, it keeps the Sunni-Shite dispute alive in the region by strengthening the Shite existence. The U.S. will support the establishment of a small, independent Shite state in parts of the northern Yemeni and southern Saudi borders. It will support a Bahraini extension in the eastern parts of K.S.A. So at the end, these will be Arab, not Iranian Shite countries, which will be later employed as American tools.
The second theory suggest that Washington considers Houthi attacks on Saudi land a terrorist act and enrolls the name of Houthis within the “Terrorist List”. Therefore, it will militarily interfere in the war and increase its existence in the Yemeni Coast.
With all above expectations, the “death slogan” group is more likely to be a tool employed by foreign contrary bodies that have a long-term strategy in Yemen and the region.

What is K.S.A. expected to do..?
Saudi is in an unpleasant situation and the best it can do to protect itself is to build a fence on its borders with Yemen. This it may not prove efficient especially in war time. However, Saudi still has more work to do. It will have to make military operations inside Yemeni lands to prevent itself from Houthis, therefore it will gain international support and get Houthis enrolled in terrorist lists.