Washington vows to provide intelligence sharing, targeting assistance, advisory and logistical support for Saudi Arabia that had launched an air campaign against Shiite Houthi forces on Wednesday night with a coalition of ten other nations. The Houthis, the country's Shiite religious minority, consider Yemen, one of the poorest Arab states, as an Islamic nation, oppressed by the United States.
.@JohnKerry phones Gulf foreign ministers and voices US support for GCC military operations in #Yemen. Callers blame #Houthis for conflict.
— Jay Solomon (@WSJSolomon) 26 Март 2015
It is believed that Houthis are supported by Iran, a powerful Shiite state in the region. So far, the US has obviously put itself in an awkward position.
While supporting pro-Iran Shiite forces’ advance in Iraq and bombing Sunni ISIL extremist fighters in Tikrit, the US at the same time is backing massive airstrikes against another pro-Iran Shiite nation.
Confused? If you're a pro-Iran Shiite militia in Iraq, you get US air cover. If you're a pro-Iran Shiite militia in Yemen, US helps bomb you
— Noah Browning (@Noah_Browning) 26 Март 2015
My Middle East bracket is completely busted.
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) 26 Март 2015
On the other hand, it remains unclear why Washington is meddling in the internal affairs of the sovereign Yemeni state, providing intelligence, targeting and advisory aid for the nations who unleashed an assault on the Arab country, noted another Twitter user.
Perhaps someone needs to pull out a map of the Gúlf and explain to US, #SaudiaArabia & allies where exactly sovereign Yemen is and is not?
— Mark Sleboda (@MarkSleboda1) 26 Март 2015
Nearly every Sunni-led Gulf Arab state involved in aggression against Houthi in #Yemen. Massive regional Sunni-Shea conflagration looming
— Mark Sleboda (@MarkSleboda1) 26 Март 2015
While Washington has pledged to support the Saudi Kingdom in its efforts to counter Shiite Houthi fighters, allegedly backed by Tehran, the US-Iranian nuclear deal has been seemingly put under threat.
Amazing to picture US and Iranian diplos hurtling towards a deal in Switzerland during this chaos #yemen #iraq #whatthehellisgoingon
— Miriam Elder (@MiriamElder) 26 Март 2015
Remarkably, the US and Iran have resumed negotiations on Thursday, aimed at reaching an agreement on the nuclear deal before the March 31 deadline. The question remains open if Washington will be able to handle the situation in the region torn by sectarian and tribal contradictions.
