Foreign Website: Saudi Arabia Failed to Build a Popular Base Inside Yemen Despite a Decade of War
A Western analysis argues that military intervention and political spending have failed to achieve sustainable popular influence inside Yemen, while the balance of power on the ground has shifted over the past years
NYN | Reports and Analyses
The English-language website Oryx Observer has affirmed that Saudi Arabia, despite dedicating vast military, political, and financial capabilities for over ten years in Yemen, has been unable to build a genuine popular base inside the country—even within areas considered under the sphere of influence of its allies.
A Question Haunting Riyadh
The website explained in an extended analysis that a pressing question has forced itself to the forefront after years of war: Where is the real popular base that Saudi Arabia possesses inside Yemen? It answered by stating that political and field indicators do not show the presence of any political or grassroots force with significant weight representing Riyadh within the Yemeni landscape.
The analysis pointed out that this reality is clearly reflected in the southern governorates, where forces allied with Saudi Arabia are supposed to hold a broad presence. However, according to the analysis, the scale of public resentment toward the Coalition’s performance has become increasingly evident in recent years.
Shifts in the Balance of Power
The analysis added that developments on the ground have yielded outcomes contrary to the goals declared at the beginning of the war. It explained that the Ansar Allah group (the Houthis) has consolidated its presence and influence, expanding its capabilities and impact beyond the Yemeni arena after previously being classified as a local force.
The website noted that these transformations have placed Saudi Arabia before a complex equation. According to the analysis, Riyadh has neither been able to diminish the scale of opposition against it inside Yemen, nor has it succeeded in building allies who enjoy a broad popular base or stable political influence.
Influence Cannot Be Built on Force Alone
The report noted that, according to its assessment, the current Yemeni political map reflects that relying on military intervention and financial backing was not enough to establish long-term influence. It emphasized that building sustainable influence requires genuine popular acceptance, rather than just political alliances or external support.
- The Oryx Observer concluded its analysis by stressing that historical precedents show that regional influence cannot be consolidated through military force, financial aid, or diplomatic maneuvers alone; rather, it primarily depends on the existence of a broad popular base that grants this influence continuity and effectiveness.
