Yemen conflict (2015–present)

Yemen conflict (2015–present)
Conflict	Yemen conflict (2015–present)
Date	March 2015 – present
Place	Yemen, Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, Arabian Sea
Casus	Political crisis after 2011 Yemeni Revolution, Houthi insurgency, regional rivalry between Islamic Republic of Iran and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Combatant1	Saudi-led coalition, Republic of Yemen, United Arab Emirates, United States, United Kingdom, France, Bahrain, Egypt, Sudan (withdrawn), Jordan
Combatant2	Houthis, GPC factions, ISIL–Yemen, AQAP, Southern Transitional Council
Commanders1	Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, Mohammed bin Salman, Ali Abdullah Saleh, Lloyd Austin, James Mattis, Boris Johnson, Emmanuel Macron
Commanders2	Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, Abdullah al-Radhi, Qassem Soleimani
Strength1	Multinational air and naval assets, ground forces
Strength2	Houthi fighters, allied militias, militias loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh (until 2017)
Casualties	See "Humanitarian impact and casualties"

Yemen conflict (2015–present) The Yemen conflict is an ongoing multi-sided armed struggle that began in 2015 after the 2011 Yemeni Revolution and the collapse of transitional arrangements between rival factions. It involves the Houthi movement, forces loyal to former Ali Abdullah Saleh, internationally recognized President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, a Saudi Arabian-led coalition, transnational extremist groups such as Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and ISIL–Yemen, and secessionist elements like the Southern Transitional Council. The war has regional implications involving Islamic Republic of Iran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United States, and United Kingdom.

Background

The conflict traces to political upheaval after the 2011 Yemeni Revolution against Ali Abdullah Saleh and the 2012 transfer of power to Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi under a deal brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council. Longstanding grievances included tensions among Zaydi groups, northern Houthi grievances tied to Sa'dah Governorate, southern separatist aspirations linked to the former People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, disputes over control of Aden, and competition for resources in Marib Governorate and the Hadhramaut. The rise of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula after the Sa'dah insurgency and the emergence of Ansar Allah (the Houthis) intersected with regional rivalries between Islamic Republic of Iran and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Belligerents and foreign involvement

Principal belligerents include Ansar Allah (Houthis), elements of the GPC formerly aligned with Ali Abdullah Saleh, the internationally recognized government led by Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, the Southern Transitional Council, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, and ISIL–Yemen. Foreign involvement has been extensive: the Saudi-led coalition with key partners United Arab Emirates and contributions from Bahrain, Egypt, Sudan (later withdrawn), and others; military assistance and arms sales from United States of America, United Kingdom, France, and Italy; alleged support for Ansar Allah from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Islamic Republic of Iran; and diplomatic activity by United Nations envoys and Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights representatives. Naval blockades and Operation Decisive Storm–era campaigns implicated maritime chokepoints near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea.

Timeline of key events

- March 2015: Houthi takeover of Sana'a culmination prompts Operation Decisive Storm and coalition intervention to restore Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. - 2015–2016: Major battles in Aden, Taiz, Al Hudaydah, and Marib; rise of AQAP and ISIL–Yemen attacks on soft targets, including bombings. - 2017: Collapse of Houthi–Saleh alliance after the Sanaa clashes (2017) and killing of Ali Abdullah Saleh; reconfiguration of alliances. - 2018–2019: Al Hudaydah offensive and sustained naval blockade effects; growing famine warnings by United Nations World Food Programme and UNICEF. - 2020–2021: Escalation in Marib Governorate and multinational diplomatic efforts led by Martin Griffiths of the United Nations. - 2022–present: Continued frontline shifts, sporadic ceasefires brokered by Oman and United Nations, prisoner exchanges, and peace talks in Riyadh and Geneva.

Military operations and tactics

Combatants have employed aerial bombardment, siege warfare, asymmetric insurgency tactics, urban warfare in Aden and Sana'a, drone and cruise missile strikes targeting Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates assets, and maritime interdictions affecting Red Sea shipping lanes. The Saudi-led coalition has used precision-guided munitions and airpower doctrines influenced by United States military cooperation, while Ansar Allah displayed proficiency with domestically modified unmanned aerial vehicles and Ballistic missile launches reminiscent of Iranian-supplied systems. Non-state actors AQAP and ISIL–Yemen used suicide bombings and improvised explosive devices in counterinsurgency contexts. Urban sieges produced protracted humanitarian choke points in Taiz and port cities such as Al Hudaydah.

Humanitarian impact and casualties

The conflict precipitated one of the world's largest humanitarian crises: widespread displacement across Aden Governorate, Sa'dah Governorate, Sana'a Governorate, with millions facing food insecurity per the World Food Programme and Food and Agriculture Organization assessments. Cholera outbreaks, measles epidemics reported by World Health Organization, and collapse of water sanitation infrastructure contributed to high morbidity. Civilian casualties from airstrikes, artillery, and urban fighting were documented by Oxfam, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International, while UNICEF and Médecins Sans Frontières reported impacts on children and health services. Economic decline, destruction of oil infrastructure in Marib, and blockade-induced shortages worsened malnutrition and mortality; casualty estimates vary among United Nations agencies, independent think tanks such as International Crisis Group, and media outlets like the BBC and The New York Times.

Political negotiations and peace efforts

Multiple mediation efforts involved the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen (including Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed and Martin Griffiths), regional actors like Oman, and international stakeholders including the United States and United Kingdom. Talks produced intermittent agreements: prisoner exchanges, localized ceasefires, and the 2018 Stockholm Agreement elements addressing Al Hudaydah port operations. The Riyadh Agreement (2019) aimed to reconcile the Southern Transitional Council with the Hadi government but implementation stalled. Diplomatic tracks have sought phased security transitions, governance arrangements, and humanitarian access, with ongoing UN-led negotiations in Geneva and other venues.

International law, war crimes, and accountability

Allegations of violations of international humanitarian law and potential war crimes have been raised by UN Human Rights Council investigations, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International, citing indiscriminate airstrikes, unlawful sieges, attacks on hospitals and schools, and use of child soldiers. Investigations have implicated actors including the Saudi Arabian-led coalition, United Arab Emirates, and Ansar Allah. Arms transfers from United States, United Kingdom, and France prompted debates over complicity under arms export controls and the Arms Trade Treaty. Accountability mechanisms remain contested; proposals include UN-mandated panels, universal jurisdiction cases in national courts, and documentation by organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross to preserve evidence for future judicial processes.

Category:Conflicts in Yemen