The first visit to Washington by Haider Al Abadi, Iraq’s prime minister, has been anything but dull. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Mr Al Abadi took aim at Yemen and specifically the Saudi-led military campaign against Houthi rebels known as Operation Decisive Storm. Arguing that the campaign has created massive humanitarian problems, the Iraqi PM said: “There is no logic to the operation at all in the first place. Mainly, the problem of Yemen is within Yemen.”
The reality is the exact opposite. The challenges facing Yemen extend far beyond the country’s borders and they demand regional cooperation and action. In fact, the same can be said about Iraq, given the long arm of ISIL stretching across the country.
The motivation behind Mr Al Abadi’s attack on Operation Decisive Storm is unclear but the prime minister is trying to sow disunity among allies. Mr Al Abadi tried to rope in the White House, suggesting that President Barack Obama shared his views on the coalition efforts in Yemen. The White House swiftly denied these allegations but did underline the need for a diplomatic solution to secure any long-term peace deal. Unsurprisingly, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Washington, Adel Al Jubeir, responded forcefully to Mr Al Abadi’s remarks, arguing that they displayed no logic. The Saudi ambassador also reaffirmed the accomplishments of Operation Decisive Storm in weakening Houthi rebels.
Perhaps the motivation behind Mr Al Abadi’s brash comments lie in Iran’s growing footprint in Iraq. While in Washington, the Iraqi prime minsiter breathlessly attempted to downplay Iran’s influence despite clear evidence to the contrary.
The Saudi-led coalition exists in order to save Yemen from falling into the same morass that has engulfed Iraq in recent years. Arguing away Yemen’s problems as internal matters completely misreads the contours of the conflict and, more importantly, its implications for the region. The Iraqi prime minister should take responsibility for the ills of his country before attempting to divert attention to another crisis where chaos is met with action and unity.
