The world’s worst humanitarian crisis is in Yemen. An ancient and remote place not exactly known for its international tourism, the country has begun to make headlines for its war, outbreaks of cholera and diphtheria, and rockets aimed at the Saudi capital hundreds of miles away from the front lines. The dangers have gone regional.
The main conflict inside Yemen — there are several — is a U.S.-backed, Saudi Arabia-led intervention to unseat a group of rebels called the Houthis. It’s been going on for more than 1,000 days, and yet both sides feel more emboldened today than ever. Meanwhile, less than half of the country’s hospitals are operational. Children are being recruited into war. The outlook is grim, and for a much larger area than just Yemen.
But why? And is there any sort of way out?
In this special feature, Defense One's Ben Watson traces the roots of conflict:
- Part One: Old lines and fallen empires
- Part Two: The Saudi-led intervention
- Part Three: What lies ahead
And don't miss this animated, historical review of the conflicts in Yemen, and how the country's dangers have gone regional.
Yemen’s southern separatists took control of the port city of Aden on Tuesday after seizing the area around the presidential palace and confining members of the UN-backed government inside. Sources within the self-proclaimed Southern Transitional Council said Prime Minister Ahmed bin Daghr was preparing to flee the city, claims that the internationally recognized government denied. Fighting between the separatists and forces loyal to Saudi Arabia-based President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi have been ongoing since Sunday, killing dozens of people. The conflict has complicated the Saudi-led coalition’s efforts to fight the Iran-backed Houthi rebels on behalf of the Hadi government. Read More