Yemeni Civil War

Yemeni Civil War
Conflict	Yemeni Civil War
Date	2014–present
Place	Yemen, Bab-el-Mandeb, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden
Status	Ongoing

Yemeni Civil War The conflict began as a complex insurgency and state collapse involving multiple armed factions, regional actors, and international coalitions, transforming Yemen into a theater for proxy competition. Key events include the fall of Sana'a to insurgents, the formation of competing administrations in Aden and Sana'a, and sustained campaigns by a Saudi-led coalition that reshaped alliances among Houthis, Southern Transitional Council, and various tribal and Islamist groups.

Background

The roots trace to the 1990 unification of North Yemen and South Yemen, the 1994 Yemeni Civil War (1994), the 2004–2010 Houthi insurgency in Yemen, and the 2011 Yemeni Revolution during the Arab Spring. Political realignments involved figures and institutions such as Ali Abdullah Saleh, Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, the General People's Congress (GPC), and the Islah (Yemeni Congregation for Reform). Economic and social stresses were exacerbated by disputes over the Southern Movement, disputes in the Hadhramaut and Marib Governorate, and the collapse of public services managed by ministries in Sana'a and Aden.

Belligerents and Factions

Major non-state and state actors include the Ansar Allah movement (commonly known as the Houthis), loyalists of Ali Abdullah Saleh until his death, the internationally recognised presidency of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, and the Southern Transitional Council aligned with southern separatists. Islamist groups include Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Yemen Province (ISIL-Yemen). Regional patrons comprise the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and coalition partners such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, and Sudan. International actors with strategic interests include United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, and multilateral organizations like the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Course of the Conflict

Initial escalations saw the 2014–2015 advance of Ansar Allah into Sana'a and the 2015 flight of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi to Riyadh. The 2015 air campaign by the Saudi-led coalition included operations coordinated from King Faisal Air Base and naval interdictions in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. Major battles and campaigns occurred in Aden, Taiz, Marib, Al Hudaydah, Saada Governorate, and Dammaj. Notable episodes include the 2015 Battle of Aden, the 2018 Battle of Al Hudaydah, the prolonged Siege of Taiz, clashes in Al Bayda Governorate, operations against AQAP in Abyan, and the 2020–2021 offensives around Marib City. Shifting alliances saw former opponents like former President Ali Abdullah Saleh and Ansar Allah collaborate briefly before Saleh's death precipitated realignments. Maritime security incidents involved Houthi missile launches, attacks on commercial shipping, and coalition naval blockades with interdictions by United States Fifth Fleet assets. Multiple rounds of talks took place under UN envoys including Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, Martin Griffiths, and Hans Grundberg with ceasefire attempts in Riyadh and Stockholm formats.

Humanitarian Impact and Displacement

The conflict precipitated one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, with mass displacement from governorates such as Hudaydah, Taiz, Aden, and Saada Governorate. Internally displaced persons sought refuge in camps around Al Mukalla, Ibb Governorate, and Al Jawf Governorate, while refugees crossed into Djibouti, Somalia, Oman, and Eritrea. Public health emergencies saw outbreaks of cholera and strains on facilities like Al-Thawra Hospital and the Sana'a University Hospital, while malnutrition affected children in Al Mahrah and Amran Governorate. Humanitarian organizations including Oxfam, Save the Children, Médecins Sans Frontières, International Rescue Committee, and UNICEF operated alongside World Food Programme and World Health Organization missions to deliver aid amid impediments from siege warfare, damaged ports such as Al Hudaydah Port, and air and naval restrictions.

International Involvement and Diplomacy

Diplomatic efforts involved the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, and mediation by countries like Oman, Kuwait, and United Kingdom. The Saudi-led coalition deployed airpower, logistical support, and ground forces coordinated with the United Arab Emirates, while Iran's alleged support to Ansar Allah through arms and advisers intensified regional tensions involving Qatar and Turkey. International legal instruments and sanctions were applied by the United States Department of the Treasury, the United Nations Sanctions Committee, and the European Union External Action Service against individuals and entities tied to arms transfers and human rights violations. Negotiated arrangements touched on port access at Al Hudaydah, prisoner exchanges overseen by Oman and UN envoys, and US-led counterterrorism strikes targeting AQAP and ISIL-Yemen nodes using assets such as Reaper UAVs.

War Crimes, Accountability, and Legal Issues

Claims of violations of international humanitarian law implicated actors including the Saudi Arabian-led coalition, Ansar Allah, United Arab Emirates, and pro-government militias. Reports by the United Nations Human Rights Council, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch documented alleged indiscriminate airstrikes, use of cluster munitions, arbitrary detentions, and enforced disappearances in locations like Sana'a and Aden. Legal debates centered on the application of the Geneva Conventions, command responsibility doctrines seen in prosecutions linked to extrajudicial killings, and investigations by national and international bodies. Accountability mechanisms considered included UN-mandated panels, national courts in coalition states such as Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, and universal jurisdiction claims pursued in United Kingdom and France courts, while obstacles remained due to political protection, evidentiary challenges, and military secrecy.

Category:Conflicts in Yemen