Beyond Saudi Arabia's Departure : Prioritizing the Southern Question for a Peaceful Yemen
T he Saudi withdrawal from Yemen's civil war is inevitable, as foreign powers typically withdraw from local conflicts when their objectives are fulfilled or when the cost of their military intervention can no longer be afforded. In the Yemeni case, the unforeseen Chinese-mediated accelerated the implementation of the Saudi withdrawal plans, resulting in an earlier date than originally predicted. The Saudi announcement of the end of their operations in Yemen was celebrated by the international community, particularly those who believe that the Yemen conflict is primarily a Saudi aggression against its impoverished neighbor, as portrayed by the Houthi narrative of this Yemeni conflict. For this group of state officials, NGO leaders, and peace activists, the Saudi withdrawal from the conflict is seen as a positive development that will naturally bring the conflict to an end. Despite any initial optimism, an experienced analyst with a deep understanding of the underlying tensions driv...