SAUDI INFRASTRUCTURE TAKING SERIOUS DAMAGE
RISK OF IMPACTING GLOBAL ECONOMY
The Saudi Houthi conflict is becoming a major disruption in the region. The dispute dates back to 2015 when the Saudi's and coalition forces intervened in the Yemen civil war, they then imposed a blockade on Yemen that has caused humanitarian suffering for the past 11 years. The dispute was on hold until Saudi forces attacked the Yemen airport in an effort to kill some of its leadership. while the attack failed, the Houthi's retaliated and then a series of tit for tat exchanges led to a massive air attack by Saudi Arabia, now the Houthi's have been effective at taking out the infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, shutting down air travel and damaging oil refineries and other oil facilities. The Houthi's now threaten to continue until Saudi Arabia ends the embargo on Yemen.
The ability of Saudi Arabia to produce and refine oil is now under threat and the other fear is that internal opposition may actually seek to overturn the existing regime. While the current leader has made reforms and ended Saudi support of international terrorism he has also made many enemies in the process of consolidating his power.
It was likely not a good time to get involved in another round of fighting with the Houthi's who have actually become a far more sophisticated and organized adversary strengthened and hardened by 11 years of blockade and fighting.
There are indications that there was pressure by the US to attempt to weaken the Houthi's or to neutralize them before the upcoming offense against Iran. Now this conflict risks causing the depletion of limited munitions and air defense interceptors that will be necessary for the anticipated resumption of war with Iran. So far the Houthi's do not appear weaker and in fact may actually put the stability of Saudi Arabia at risk.
It all adds up to a complication of the oil markets and threatens further instability of the gulf countries, with no end in sight.
No comments:
Post a Comment
comments and opinions published at discretion of editor