The Yemeni Civil War has been ongoing since late 2014 and has involved several sides that can be grouped into 3 belligerents including the Cabinet of Yemen (current government and Yemen National Army), the Supreme Political Council (basically the Houthi Movement) and Al-Qaeda (including Ansar al-Sharia).
The war began in September 2014 when protests against the Hadi government began after they had cut fuel subsidies. The street protests quickly escalated into conflict when the Houthi forces took over the capital city of Sanna which was then followed up by a takeover of the government by Houthi Forces. The Houthi’s are an Islamist political and armed movement that emerged in the 1990s. They are called Houthi as the founders were from the Houthi tribe and they are a predominately Zaidi Shia group.
As the Shia population had largely felt underrepresented in a largely Sunni populated country, they saw an opportunity with the protests and began an armed attack. The goal of the initial attack and subsequent government takeover was to overthrow Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, the president of Yemen who has ruled since 2012. Houthi forces continued their offensive having largely caught the Yemen National Army off guard and were quickly able to seize several provinces. The quick push to the South of the country pushed Hadi to flee and act as president in exile. It was also around this time the Houthi Movement was able to recruit more legitimate state actors when Ali Abdullah Saleh also joined their cause. Saleh was a Yemeni politician who had served as first president of Yemen.
At the same time, a coalition was formed with the assistance of Saudi Arabia and air strikes were launched against Houthi strong holds. It is believed at this time that Iran also pushed additional support to the Houthis and the conflict has since been largely seen as an Iran-Saudi Arabia proxy war. Hadi had also reached out to the UN council and his government has largely benefited from international backing specifically from the United States and other Persian Gulf monarchies. The US began launching drone strikes around 2015 and has been a major supplier of weapons to the Yemeni government.
In March 2015, Houthi forces along with Pro-Saleh forces entered the city of Taiz, which is Yemen’s 3rd largest city, and quickly took over the city. They met little resistance, but this battle is important as Western media began reporting that a civil war was breaking out in Yemen. March 2015 would be a bloody month in the conflict as the Houthi Movement, pro-Saleh forces, and the rest of their coalition pushed on attacking the Bab-el-Mandeb strait (vital corridor through which much of the world’s maritime trade passes), coastal military bases (seized much of the 17th Armoured Division of the Yemen Army), and parts of the city of Dali. By the end of March and start of April, the Houthi Movement and their coalition were at the footstep of Aden, the stronghold of Hadi. Much of the city was seized by the Houthi Movement however Hadi had already fled to Saudia Arabia.
The war ravaged on with fighting throughout the country. In May 2015, the Saudis are able to broker a true which the Houthi Movement agree to. This allows aid to arrive to Yemen. In July 2015, the Cabinet of Yemen coalition recaptures Aden. Over the summer of 2015, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE send tons of aid and assistance to the Hadi government. The UN also begins arriving with relief supplies. In October 2015, Saudi Arabia coordinates the assistance of Sudanese troops into Aden who arrive to bolster the Cabinet of Yemen and their coalition.
Several cities change hands back and forth. Around December 2015, the Houthi Movement and their coalition engage Al-Qaeda and their coalition who had also made a push into Yemen. The cities of Shuqrah and Zinjibar are fought over by Houthis and Al-Qaeda with the later recapturing and holding them in February 2016. With the Houthi Movement distracted by Al-Qaeda, pro-Hadi forces make a push to Sanaa and capture the Nihm District. They push forward and capture many of the villages around there. The rest of 2016 features several skirmishes across the country between the Houthi Movement, pro-Hadi forces, and Al-Qaeda. Due to the back and forth fighting, no side really captures more territory than the other.
In January 2017, US Navy SEALs carry out a raid in the city of Yakla. The target were elements of Al-Qaeda and the goal was to destroy them. While the Navy SEALs were able to take out at least 14 Al-Qaeda fighters, they also lost a SEAL and a US MV-22 Osprey aircraft. In March 2017, the US launch several airstrikes against Al-Qaeda elements successfully taking out hundreds of their fighters. In May 2017, ISIL enters the Yemen conflict and begins attacking the Houthi Movement, pro-Hadi forces and Al-Qaeda.
In December 2017, Saleh withdrew his support from the Houthi Movement and their coalition. He immediately switched allegiances back to the Cabinet of Yemen, Saudia Arabia and the UAE. On December 4th, 2017, he was shot and killed by a Houthi sniper. Pro-Hadi forces are able to capture the strategic coastal town of Al-Khawkhah from the Houthi Movement.
In January 2018, tensions in the south of Yemen increase. A Southern Transition Council (STC) which had been formed in the 1990s and represents 5 major cities including Aden, Lahij, Ja’ar, Zinjibar, and Al Mukalia, starts to rise against the pro-Hadi government. Up until now, the STC were largely helpful in backing pro-Hadi forces and assisting them in controlling the southern part of the country. The STC seized the city of Aden from pro-Hadi forces by the end of January 2018.
In April 2018, the Yemeni forces carry out a raid against Al-Qaeda elements and kill two leaders. Saudi Arabia step up airstrikes amid missile attacks into Saudi Arabia from the Houthi Movement. Heavy fighting steps up in al-Durayhmi and Bayt al-Faqih, both cities with large populations and UN operations. The UN were forced to withdraw amidst the heavy fighting.
In December 2018 a truce is called in the city of Hudaydah which is seen as a lifeline for half of the country. The Houthi Movement and pro-Hadi forces withdraw all their troops and are replaced by UN designated “local troops”.
In January 2019, the true in Hudaydah is holding up however there are several exchanges of fire and ceasefires between warring parties around the city. The rest of the country continues be engulfed in war. In June 2019, the UAE withdraw some support by withdrawing troops from Yemen amid tensions with Iran on the Persian Gulf.
In January 2020, the Houthi forces recapture the city of Sanaa after a long fight with pro-Hadi forces. They also push into Naham, Al-Jawf and Marib, capturing those cities as well. In March 2020, Houti forces capture the town of Tabab Al-Bara as well as the outskirts of the Marib city.
In May 2020, pro-Hadi forces attack Zijibar and engage STC fighters. The attack causes a rift between the two and makes the Riyadh Agreement between them delicate. Several peace talks are hosted in Riyadh between the sides.
In June 2020, the STC seized control of Socotra while Houthi forces advanced on the North of Badya and the South of Marib seized large swaths of land. In July 2020, coalition fighter jets launched attacks on these movements ending the ceasefire that had been in place since April 2020.
In August 2020, Houthi forces captured Al Bayda and fighting intensified in the rest of the country. In December 2020, an attack targeted the Aden International Airport just as a plane carrying members of the Yemeni government disembarked. The attack left 28 people dead and 107 people injured.
In February 2021, fighting again intensified as the Houthi forces launched another offensive to try to capture Marib. Although they made several advances on the city, they could not get through the defences. The attacks resulted in over 140,000 displaced refuges. As of June 2021, fighting continues to rage through the country. There are currently over 10 million Yemenis that are deprived of one or more of water, food and electricity of the conflict. There is a huge food shortage and it is estimated close to 400,000 people are at risk of dying from starvation. No further cease talks are currently in place or planned.
Ben