Network Take: Death of a Gulf Strongman

Cipher Brief experts and CIA veterans Norman Roule, Emile Nakhleh and Rob Richer, together with former U.S. Amb. to Yemen Steven Seche, weighed in Monday after Yemen’s former president Ali Abdullah Saleh was reported killed by his former allies. Saleh had switched sides over the weekend, in hopes of negotiating an end to the long running civil war, dropping the Iran-supported Houthis for talks with the Saudi Arabia-led coalition. The coalition has been trying to restore the rule of the internationally recognized leader, President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Norm Roule: In the wake of Saleh’s death, the conflict in Yemen will sadly continue. The drivers for Saudi involvement in Yemen were shaped by the actions of Ali Abdullah Saleh although his recent outreach to the Saudi coalition did offer a slim hope of peace. The Saudis will remain focused on the threat of Iran’s influence over Yemen, specifically, Iran’s provision of missile technology to the Houthis, and the prospect of long-term Iranian presence on their southern border and along the strategic Bab al-Mandab. For these reasons, I believe Saudi Arabia will therefore continue to press forward with its military and humanitarian operations in Yemen.