Fight club

摘要

Saudi Arabia is taking a lead in fighting Shiite forces in Yemen.The air war against Yemen’s Shiite Houthi rebels, and in support of Riyadh’s beleaguered ally,President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi,marks an escalation in Saudi military activity.It is even ready to follow up with ground forces at the head of a military coalition centred on the Arab League. Riyadh has previously played a supporting role.Its air-force joined in with sorties against Islamist group Isis that started in September.The Gulf Co-operation Council(GCC) alliance against Isis is a key part of Saudi foreign policy. Saudi forces were a part of the coalition against Iraq in 1990-91 and intervened on behalf of Bahrain’s Sunni rulers in March 2011.But Riyadh’s strident new role in Yemen reveals insecurity as much as strength.