Tamim fighting Saudi Arabia in Yemen

Rubeir al-Fares

Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad feigns compliance to the terms of reconciliation with moderate Arab states that cut off trade and diplomatic ties with Qatar in 2017.

In actual terms, however, Tamim fights Saudi Arabia and this is nowhere clearer than in Yemen where he receives support from the Muslim Brotherhood and aids the Iran-backed Houthi militia.

According to some informed sources, Qatar tries to change the influence map in some of the cities liberated by the Saudi-led coalition from Houthi control so that it can tilt in its favor and the favor of its Turkish ally.

The Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Islah militia launches wars in three liberated Yemeni provinces that have their own political, economic and geographic weight. The militia tries to help Turkey gain a foothold in these provinces.

Qatar tries to move battles to mountains overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in southern Yemen.

This comes months after Islah attacked security forces in the southern city of Taizz. The Brotherhood militia also appointed a military security chief loyal to it in the city. It mandated the new military security chief with the mission of controlling more land.

The Brotherhood militia also partnered with the Public Mobilization militia, which is bankrolled by Qatar, in trying to control other parts of Yemen and fighting the Yemeni army.

The same militia expanded its operations in other Yemeni cities in its bid to force the residents of these cities into total submission. To do this, the Islah militia used brute force against opponents. It arrested these opponents and raided the homes of military officers. It also carried out brutal executions.