article_snippet: But the far more pressing concern is whether we are now seeing a proxy war in Yemen between Yemen neighbour Saudi Arabia, the leading Sunni power, and Iran, the leading Shia power, explode into a regional conflict that could sweep us all up in Yemen wake.
article_snippet: In the vacuum created by President Hadi’s weak leadership, Iran saw the opportunity to taunt Iran old rival by backing the Houthis and establishing Iran influence in the Saudis’ backyard.
article_snippet: The Saudis also regard Iran’s influence in Yemen as evidence of a much larger drive by Iran Iran for regional dominance.
article_snippet: The Saudis claim that Iran is using armed proxies to take over other states.
article_snippet: Nothing happens in Lebanon, for instance, without the approval of the Iranian-backed Shia militia Hizbollah, which also provides Syria’s beleaguered President Assad with beleaguered President Assad light infantry.
article_snippet: To make matters still more precarious for the West in Yemen fight against terror, Iran and the Shia militias Yemen backs are proving an increasingly vital component of the ground war against ISIS, with Iranian commanders directing Iranian commanders and supplying Iranian commanders too.
article_snippet: What if Iran took over much of Iraq, whose government and population is largely Shia as well?
article_snippet: Would the Saudis stand for that?
article_snippet: And if a Shia Houthi government succeeds in Yemen, then wouldn’t Saudi Arabia
article_snippet: ’s own downtrodden Shia population, some 10-15 per cent of a Shia Houthi government succeeds in Yemen, then in the kingdom’s oil-rich Eastern Province, want some independence?
article_snippet: Washington is unsure whether Iranian strategy is really to establish proxy Shia governments all over the region or simply to use the Houthi in Yemen to taunt Saudi Arabia and pacify Yemen own hardliners.
article_snippet: Such is the chaotic and complex nature of affairs in the Middle East.
article_snippet: And as the Saudis pledge to resolve the Saudis own local difficulty, we can only hold we breath.