It is difficult to change the attitude and ideas of regimes and groups overnight. For example the aggressive Qatari attitude towards the countries in the region is quite old and will take a long time to change. For many years, the Qatari regime has been in the habit of working against countries of the region and their interests, and it has also gotten used to harming and abusing its neighboring states. Previously, this behavior was done in secret, but now it is done openly in public, as was demonstrated by its media when it supported the Houthi terrorist attack that used ballistic missiles against Saudi Arabia and allowed leaders of the terrorist Houthi forces to appear on Al Jazeera channel. Meanwhile, two Qatari jet fighters approached two UAE civilian aircrafts threatening the lives of innocent passengers. This is not the first time this happens as there have been similar instances in the past and the UAE had taken legal action against them!

Act of desperation

It is also difficult to change the terrorist behavior of various groups and militias, particularly the Houthis. Firing the seven ballistic missiles, which the Saudi forces intercepted, sends a clear message that the Houthis are in a desperate situation and have been defeated. They are fully aware that they are committing a huge crime. Iran which is providing them with these missiles knows that such an attack would invoke due punishment. Yet they insist on continuing with their terrorist behavior, as their sense of despair is forcing them to take all their chances! Firing these missiles is all what the militias can do after they have lost most of their positions on the ground, and after the coalition forces succeeded in regaining many areas that were under the Iranian-backed Houthi militias’ control.

What the terrorists and pirates should know is that the Arab Coalition forces are determined to achieve victory, and will not stop until they have regained legitimacy for Yemen. They should never forget that Saudi Arabia is considered by the whole Gulf and Yemen as a cornerstone for regional security and stability which any attack against will not be tolerated. Any attack against Saudi Arabia is deemed a direct attack on the countries of the region. Iran’s targeting of Saudi Arabia is tantamount to targeting the whole region.

Remember the martyrs

After three years, Yemenis have come closer towards the end a bloody chapter in the history of their country. When Yemen’s reconstruction phase begins, it will be important to remember all the heroes of the Yemeni and Arab coalition forces. We would always remember the UAE’s brave soldiers and our martyrs who sacrificed their souls to restore the rights to owners and to restore the security and stability of Yemen and the region.

After three years of victories, the international community must participate in resolving the situation in Yemen. This is not a regional war and not just a civil war, but a war to protect the world’s security and stability which Tehran wants to tamper with by controlling an important part of the Arab Peninsula and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.

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Mohammed Al-Hammadi is the Editor-in-Chief of Al Ittihad newspaper and Executive Director of editing and publishing at the Abu Dhabi Media Company. He founded and was Editor-in-Chief of the Arabic edition of National Geographic magazine, and has held numerous positions in journalism since joining Al Ittihad in 1994. Al-Hammadi has been a columnist for more than 15 years, including writing a daily column for seven years and producing a weekly political column in Al Ittihad since 2001. He has also worked as a parliamentary editor for seven years, covering the proceedings of the Federal National Council in the United Arab Emirates. In addition to being an active participant on social networks, Al-Hammadi has an interest in new media and is currently working on a project to ease the transition from traditional to digital and smart media. Al-Hammadi has received numerous awards and is a member of a number of organizations and federations. He features regularly in broadcast media as a regional political commentator and has authored several books including Time of Ordeal (2008), The UAE Democracy (2009) and The Fall of the Muslim Brotherhood (2016). Twitter: @MEalhammadi.

Source:  english.alarabiya.net