Oman turning towards Saudi?

Amir Masrouri, expert in regional affairs:

Saudi coalition against Yemen says Oman has joined it however Oman says it continues to keep a neutral position and non-invasion of the regional Arab states and that the joining of the coalition was solely aimed at training and information works.

At time when Yemenis are moving towards the formation of new government, Saudis showed they are making a push for expanding the siege on Yemen and push the course of the coalition towards an economic one in nature.

Saudis have already failed to restore the toppled Hadi government even after nearly two years of war the gains of which for Saudis were demolished infrastructure and massacre of civilians in Yemen.  

The Saudi coalition was actually formed as an Islamic coalition for the stated goal of countering the ISIS terror group in West Asia (Middle East) however they targeted the popular Yemeni group, Ansar Allah as a terror group.

Many considered Oman as leading a mediatory role in the regional conflicts. Oman has common borders with Yemen on east where terror groups, including the ISIS and al-Qaeda are positioning. Oman could have wished to fend off the terror threat by joining the coalition. The objective would seem even more crucial in light of the critical health of Omani King Qabous.

Oman however lost its invaluable position of neutrality and would have been forced in the future to pay costs to restore the balance of policy, especially in light of the Saudi greedy eyes at the country’s post-Qabous era.