Yemeni Civil War (2014–present)

Yemeni Civil War (2014–present)
Conflict	Yemeni Civil War
Partof	the Arab Winter and the Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict
Date	16 September 2014 – present
Place	Yemen
Result	Ongoing
Combatant1	Ansar Allah, Supreme Political Council, Saleh loyalists (2014–2017), Supported by:, Iran, Hezbollah
Combatant2	Yemeni government, Southern Transitional Council (2017–present; intermittent conflict), Al-Islah, Supported by:, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United States, Senegal, Sudan, Qatar (2015–2017)
Commander1	Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, Mahdi al-Mashat, Ali Abdullah Saleh
Commander2	Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, Mohammed bin Salman, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Yemeni Civil War (2014–present) is an ongoing multi-layered conflict that began in 2014 when the Houthi movement, allied with forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, seized control of Sanaa and large parts of northwestern Yemen. This prompted a military intervention in 2015 by a Saudi Arabia-led coalition supporting the internationally recognized government of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. The war has evolved into a complex proxy struggle between regional powers, primarily Iran and Saudi Arabia, and has triggered what the United Nations describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Background and causes

The roots of the conflict lie in the political instability following the Yemeni Revolution of 2011, which forced longtime ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh to transfer power to his deputy, Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. Hadi's transitional government, supported by the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative, struggled with economic collapse, corruption, and a resurgent Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. The Houthi movement, a Zaidiyyah revivalist group from Saada Governorate, capitalized on widespread discontent with the central government in Sanaa. Historical grievances, including the Houthis' marginalization and their six wars against the Saleh government between 2004 and 2010, fueled their military campaign. The failed political transition outlined by the National Dialogue Conference created a power vacuum the Houthis exploited.

Timeline of major events

The conflict escalated in September 2014 when Houthi forces captured Sanaa in a swift offensive. By January 2015, they surrounded the Presidential Palace, leading to the resignation and later house arrest of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. Hadi fled to Aden and later to Riyadh, prompting the start of Operation Decisive Storm in March 2015 by the Saudi-led coalition. Major battles include the Battle of Aden (2015), the Siege of Taiz, and the Battle of Marib, which remains a critical frontline. In December 2017, the alliance between the Houthis and Saleh loyalists fractured, leading to clashes in Sanaa and the killing of Ali Abdullah Saleh. Significant events also include Houthi missile attacks on Saudi Arabia, such as those targeting Abha International Airport and Ras Tanura, and coalition airstrikes like the 2018 bombing of a bus in Saada.

Belligerents and foreign involvement

Primary belligerents are the Houthi movement, which controls the Supreme Political Council in Sanaa, and the Presidential Leadership Council of the internationally recognized Yemeni government, based in Riyadh and Aden. The Southern Transitional Council, backed by the United Arab Emirates, has intermittently fought both the Houthis and the central government, advocating for southern secession. Foreign involvement is extensive: the Houthis receive political and material support from Iran and are advised by Hezbollah. The Saudi-led coalition, including the United Arab Emirates, Senegal, and Sudan, provides air power, ground troops, and blockade enforcement. The United States offers logistical support, intelligence, and arms sales to the coalition, while also conducting counterterrorism operations against Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Yemen Province.

Humanitarian impact and war crimes

The war has created a catastrophic humanitarian disaster, with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimating over 377,000 deaths from direct and indirect causes. A coalition-enforced blockade on Hodeidah port and Sanaa International Airport has severely restricted imports of food, medicine, and fuel, contributing to widespread famine and the world's largest cholera outbreak. Both sides have been accused of committing war crimes: the Saudi-led coalition for airstrikes on civilian infrastructure like the 2016 Saudi Arabian-led bombing of a funeral in Sana'a and attacks on Médecins Sans Frontières facilities, and the Houthis for indiscriminate shelling, use of child soldiers, and laying landmines. The United Nations Human Rights Council established the Group of Eminent International and Regional Experts on Yemen to investigate violations.

Peace efforts and international response

Multiple peace initiatives have been attempted, primarily led by the United Nations. Former UN Special Envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed mediated talks in Kuwait and Switzerland, while his successor, Martin Griffiths, brokered the Stockholm Agreement in December 2018, which focused on Hodeidah. The Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen continues to facilitate negotiations. The United States Congress has repeatedly attempted to limit military support for the coalition, while the European Union maintains an arms embargo. Regional diplomacy, including efforts by Oman and a tentative détente between Iran and Saudi Arabia facilitated by China in 2023, has created intermittent ceasefires, such as the 2022 Yemeni truce.

Current situation and future outlook

As of 2024, the conflict is largely stalemated, with the Houthis controlling Sanaa and the northwest, and the internationally recognized government holding parts of the south and center, including Marib. The Southern Transitional Council exerts significant autonomy in Aden. The war has been further internationalized since November 2023, with Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea prompting military responses from the United States and the United Kingdom under Operation Prosperity Guardian. The humanitarian situation remains dire, with millions dependent on World Food Programme aid. A sustainable political solution remains elusive, complicated by internal fractures within anti-Houthi factions, the Houthis' entrenched position, and the enduring regional rivalry between Riyadh and Tehran.

Category:Yemeni Civil War (2014–present) Category:21st-century conflicts Category:Wars involving Saudi Arabia