Major Corruption Exposed in Saudi-Backed Forces, 80% of Personnel Exist Only on Paper

Major Corruption Exposed in Saudi-Backed Forces, 80% of Personnel Existing Only on Paper

Shiite News: A revealing report by the US broadcaster CNN, citing a Western source, has disclosed that the personnel lists of Saudi Arabia-backed forces in Yemen were filled with fictitious names. Monthly salaries were regularly collected in the names of these nonexistent personnel, while in practice only around 20 percent of the listed forces were actually present on the battlefield. This serious situation is reportedly the result of years of severe administrative mismanagement and corruption among Saudi-backed elements.

Amr al-Baidh, a senior official of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council, acknowledged the situation, saying that the Saudi-led coalition lacked a clear strategy and faced serious mismanagement.

Meanwhile, former US government adviser Mohammed al-Basha said deep internal divisions among leading figures of factions opposed to Ansar Allah had placed their defensive lines at risk. He pointed out that the Saudi-led coalition opposing Ansar Allah had neither political cohesion nor a unified military command.

According to the CNN report, these weaknesses, internal divisions and administrative failures within the Saudi-led coalition contributed to an advance by the Yemeni armed forces and Ansar Allah fighters toward Perim Island (Mayyun), located at the strategically important entrance to the Red Sea.

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The reported advance has, according to the article, effectively placed control of the strategically vital Bab al-Mandab Strait in the hands of Ansar Allah, a waterway of major importance to global trade.