Christian Science Monitor reports: Saudi Arabia called it quits on its “Decisive Storm” campaign against Yemen’s Houthi rebels Tuesday after a month of airstrikes that left hundreds dead. The Saudi Defense Ministry said in a statement that the campaign’s objectives “have been achieved,” but certainly nothing decisive has been a result of its involvement.

Yemen’s future is as muddied as when the shooting began. The Shiite Houthi movement remains intact and powerful, Saudi Arabia’s preferred ruler of Yemen, President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, remains in exile in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. A few weeks ago Saudi Arabia implored Egypt and Pakistan to commit troops to the fight in Yemen, recognizing that air power from afar was not going to settle control of Yemen on the ground. Both those countries demurred.

Absent a capable invasion force – something Saudi Arabia’s own military isn’t up to – a political settlement has looked more and more like the best option for all concerned. [Continue reading…]