Saudi Arabia building up military near Yemen border as civil war rages on

Buildup of artillery follows a southward advance by Iranian-backed Houthi Shia militants who took control of the capital Sanaa last year.

Saudi Arabia is moving heavy military equipment including artillery to areas near its border with Yemen, US officials said on Tuesday, raising the risk that the Middle East's top oil power will be drawn into the worsening Yemeni conflict.
The buildup follows a southward advance by Iranian-backed Houthi Shia militants who took control of the capital Sanaa in September and seized the central city of Taiz at the weekend as they move closer to the new southern base of US-backed President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
The armor and artillery being moved by Saudi Arabia could be used for offensive or defensive purposes, two US government sources said. Two other US officials said the build-up appeared to be defensive.
One US government source described the size of the Saudi buildup on Yemen's border as "significant" and said the Saudis could be preparing air strikes to defend Hadi if the Houthis attack his refuge in the southern seaport of Aden.
Another US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Washington had acquired intelligence about the Saudi build-up. But there was no immediate word on the precise location near the border or the exact size of the force deployed.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/yemen/11493494/Saudi-Arabia-building-up-military-near-Yemen-border-as-civil-war-rages-on.html


Well it seems the Saudi's are about to play their hand and it may trigger the war I have been expecting between Iran and Saudi.
Israel really has little to worry about if it does, as both sides will end up destroying each other, though I do see Iran coming out on top, which will change the face of the Middlea East for years to come. It may even bring about a much needed revolution in Iran.

(Reuters) - Warplanes from Saudi Arabia and Arab allies struck Shi'ite Muslim rebels fighting to oust Yemen's president on Thursday, a gamble by the world's top oil exporter to check Iranian influence in its backyard without direct military backing from Washington.
Riyadh's rival Iran denounced the assault on the Houthi militia group, which it backs, and made clear the kingdom's deployment of a Sunni coalition against Shi'ite enemies would complicate efforts to end a conflict likely to inflame the sectarian animosities fuelling wars around the Middle East.
Warplanes bombed the main airport and the nearby al Dulaimi military air base of the Houthi-held capital Sanaa, residents said, in an apparent attempt to weaken the Houthis' air power and ability to fire missiles.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/25/saudi-arabia-military-yemen_n_6943750.html?utm_hp_ref=uk&ir=UK

The fighting in Yemen is promoted by Iran, on behalf of the Shi'ia. Isn't it ironic that the west is helping Iran (with air cover) against ISIL in Syria, but fighting Iran (SA--again with air cover) in Yemen?

Can you get it straight guys in Washington and London? It's 'Shi''ia" and 'Sunni'...Sunni and Shi'ia. Just write it down, and you will begin to figure it out eventually.

At first glance I thought of Sonny@Cher

Original Quill wrote:The fighting in Yemen is promoted by Iran, on behalf of the Shi'ia.  Isn't it ironic that the west is helping Iran (with air cover) against ISIL in Syria, but fighting Iran (SA--again with air cover) in Yemen?

Can you get it straight guys in Washington and London?  It's 'Shi''ia" and 'Sunni'...Sunni and Shi'ia.  Just write it down, and you will begin to figure it out eventually.  

I told you it would be Saudi that played the next move, where this is edging closer and closer to an all out war in the middles east with Iran and its puppet nations on one side and Saudi and its puppet states on the other

Sunni@ cher are easy to remember.

nicko wrote:Sunni@ cher are easy to remember.

We got it the first time, nicko. Actually, quite funny. Gd giggle.

Quill, .just thought I'd try it again, I like to inject a little joke now and again

Brasidas wrote:

Original Quill wrote:The fighting in Yemen is promoted by Iran, on behalf of the Shi'ia.  Isn't it ironic that the west is helping Iran (with air cover) against ISIL in Syria, but fighting Iran (SA--again with air cover) in Yemen?

Can you get it straight guys in Washington and London?  It's 'Shi''ia" and 'Sunni'...Sunni and Shi'ia.  Just write it down, and you will begin to figure it out eventually.  

I told you it would be Saudi that played the next move, where this is edging closer and closer to an all out war in the middles east with Iran and its puppet nations on one side and Saudi and its puppet states on the other

Yes you did...gd call.

And do you now see the value of my advice...US SHOULD STAY OUT OF IT? This is the long sought civil war within Islam, going back to--what?--the 7th century. If the US were present, both sides would be beseeching it to become their gladiator...just as they did during GWB's Iraq war.

Question is...the one outsider is Israel. How will it weigh in? The whole thing is a tripartite conflict.

Original Quill wrote:

Brasidas wrote:



I told you it would be Saudi that played the next move, where this is edging closer and closer to an all out war in the middles east with Iran and its puppet nations on one side and Saudi and its puppet states on the other

Yes you did...gd call.

And do you now see the value of my advice...US SHOULD STAY OUT OF IT?  This is the long sought civil war within Islam, going back to--what?--the 7th century.  If the US were present, both sides would be beseeching it to become their gladiator...just as they did during GWB's Iraq war.

Question is...the one outsider is Israel.  How will it weigh in?  The whole thing is a tripartite conflict.

Never claimed they should get involved in a war between both Saudi and Iran Quill, my view was on action to be taken in regards to ISIS who are committing genocide.
Both sides, even more so Iran are leaving themselves very stretched, with being involved heavily in other nations in the region. To many fronts to juggle at the same time, hence why Saudi took the opportunity here to invade Yemen. They know Iran is thinly stretched. Though that does not mean they will not attempt to counter this move by Saudi, as I am sure they will. Where my guess is the next place to have internal problems on Saudi's door step will be Kuwait or Bahrain, which my money is on the later. This would create Saudi with many tactical problems.

Israel would no doubt weigh in with Saudi if it had to make a choice. As Iran is more the enemy to them. Though having said that I do not think they will do anything other than to protect against any threats to Israel itself. Because why weaken Israel forces by committing to any of this, when their enemy (Iran) is weakening itself and its forces. This then has a knock on affect, because they will less and less be able to support groups with weaponry.

Interesting analysis. We'll wait and see.

I don't expect that Israel will send in fighting units either. Note I said "weigh in" and not enter the fray, with regard to Israel. But eventually it will come to that.

I do appreciate how this is shaking out to be just the fight we predicted.

Indeed Quill and we shall have to wait and see, but I do not see any declarations of war between the two for at least a few more years yet, when it will have reached the point of no return for either side.