Houthis & Saudis: The Question of Legitimacy
By: Kayhan Int’l Staff Writer
A deadly war with international implications is raging in our neighbourhood between two Arab Muslim neighbours, diametrically opposed in ideology and intent upon humiliating the other.
Although it appears as an unequal figh, in view of the size, resources, wealth, welfare, equipment, and almost global diplomatic clout of one belligerent, David with his meagre means of defence seems to be winning the battle with slingshots aimed right at the head and heart of Goliath.
Yes, we are speaking about the confrontation between oil-rich Saudi Arabia and its mercenaries in Yemen, against the people of northern Yemen, led by the popular Ansarallah Movement, whom the pro Zionist western and Arab medias like to ‘Houthis’ because their leaders belong to the “al-Houthi” clan tracing ancestry to Prophet Muhammad (SAWA).
Both parties view themselves to be on the right and defending their respective territories, while questioning the legitimacy of the other, with opinions sharply divided.
The Sana’a based government is called rebel, which in turn questions the tag of “internationally recognized” for breakaway southern Yemen ruled by a bunch of mercenaries, not just acting as per the dictates of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, but ready to serve the vested interests of the illegal Zionist entity against their own independent compatriots of the north.
The “Ansarallah” or the “Houthis” – whatever one likes to call them – point to their popularity amongst the tribes of Yemen as heirs of the thousand-year long Zaydi Imamate that was overthrown in 1962, in contrast to the lack of any tribal support for either the clique in Aden or for their masters the Saudis, who are of dubious ancestry.
As independent observers note, over the past dozen and more years the “al-Houthi” leaders have proven their legitimacy on several occasions with hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Yemenis rallying to their cause and determined to defeat the aggressors despite the destruction wrought on their homeland by the American aircraft and bombs of the Saudis.
Observers also point out that leaving aside the weak tribal claims of the Aden clique, the rulers in Riyadh, who belong to the “Aal-e Saud” clan of Najd sorely lack even minimal support amongst the various tribes of Arabia in spite of calling the land their rule by the tribal name of “Saudi Arabia”,
For instance, they cannot summon to their cause, the people of Hijaz that houses the sacred cities of Mecca and Medina, the port city of Jeddah, and the mountain resort of Taef, which they occupied with much bloodshed in 1926.
They also do not have the backing of the people of Najran and parts of Jizan that geographically, historically, and politically are considered parts of Yemen and were seized by Abdul-Aziz Aal-e Saud in 1932 after a British supported war.
The same is true of the other provinces of what is called Saudi Arabia where no one will rally to the support of the Saudi rulers, whose recent desperate called on fellow Takfiri tribes of Syria was rejected.
Now we better understand the war in our neighbourhood, the iron-resolve of the Ansarallah, their prestige amongst the people of Yemen, and the power and precision of their projectiles.
Now we also understand why the rulers of Saudi Arabia are more catholic than the pope in their trust in the US and the UK, and covertly seek the support of the avowed enemies of Islam, the Israelis.