Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, London, Originally posted in Arabic on July 29
Yemeni troops, with the aid of Saudi and Emirati forces, succeeded in recapturing the port city of Aden from the hands of the Houthi rebels. This is a dramatic victory for ousted president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who escaped from the very same city, using a speedboat, just several months ago.
The recapturing of Aden is a symbolic move that represents nothing short of a game changer. First, and most importantly, because Aden was the last Yemeni city free of Houthi control, and its fall would have symbolized the fall of Yemen as a whole.
Second, because the liberation of the city sends a clear message to Tehran that its intervention in the region will be met with severe force. Indeed, the rebels are now realizing that they made a big mistake by fighting for the city, as they have suffered significant losses in the fighting, and lost their legitimacy in the eyes of many.
Lastly, it reminds the world that the only way to exhibit authority is not through wishful United Nations Security Council decisions, but through presence on the ground. Today, Saudi Arabia proved that it is the ultimate guarantor of security and stability in the Gulf – and cannot be defied by any other power.
While this battle is just the first of many, it presents hope for the war-torn country. The battle over Yemen is likely to be long, but the Saudi forces will not let it fall into the hands of Iran. – Abd Al-Rahman Al-Rashed