Understanding the Yemen Conflict: A Comprehensive Guide to the War's Origins and Latest Escalations

Supporters of Yemen's Houthis rally in Sanaa, Yemen, in protest against Saudi Arabia's accusation that the group attacked Islam's holiest site of Mecca. Yemen is back in the global spotlight after the Iran-aligned Houthi group earlier this month made military gains against the forces loyal to the internationally recognised government, tightening its grip over the Red Sea coast. The latest escalation in the Arab region’s most impoverished nation follows a period of relative calm that had largely held since the United Nations-brokered ceasefire in 2022 between the Iran-aligned group and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.

The Houthi takeover of northwestern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014 had drawn Saudi military intervention. The fighting left tens of thousands dead and millions displaced, creating a humanitarian crisis. In 2023, Saudi Arabia and the Houthis agreed to a UN roadmap towards a permanent ceasefire after direct talks, but the roadmap was never formalised.

From the 2014 Houthi takeover to the expansion of the Saudi-backed government

The Houthis took over vast swaths of northwestern Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa, in September 2014, and months later assumed control of the government, forcing President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to flee to Aden and then to Saudi Arabia. Alarmed by the rise of the Iran-aligned Houthis on its border, Saudi Arabia intervened in support of the internationally recognised government of Hadi in March 2015, carrying out thousands of attacks. Saudi Arabia sees Iran as a regional threat due to the latter’s financial and military power, as well as support for armed groups like Hezbollah.

In this period, Houthi rebels targeted strategic infrastructure across Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), including airports, gas fields and oil tankers in the Red Sea. According to data analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Saudi Arabia’s military intercepted more than 4,000 Houthi missiles, drones and other standoff weapons between 2017 and 2022. In 2019, the UN reported that about 24 million people needed some form of assistance, making Yemen “the world’s worst humanitarian crisis” after nearly five years of war.

Who are the main players?

The Houthis: Also known as Ansar Allah, they are an armed group in control of mainly northwestern Yemen and several areas close to Saudi Arabia. They emerged in the northern mountainous region of Saada in the 1990s and have gained international prominence for their attacks on Israel and shipping in the Red Sea since October 2023.

Saudi Arabia: Riyadh entered the Yemen war when it led a military coalition against the Houthis in March 2015, seeking to restore the government of then-President Hadi.

Presidential Leadership Council: The PLC was established in 2022 when former President Hadi formally transferred his powers to the new eight-member body. It is chaired by Rashad al-Alimi and is backed by Saudi Arabia.

Islah party: The Yemeni Congregation for Reform is a Sunni Islamist movement with historical ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, with its major stronghold in Marib.

National Resistance Forces: A government-aligned military faction led by Tareq Saleh, positioning itself as a counterweight to both the Houthis and southern secessionists.

What is the humanitarian situation?

More than 112,000 people have been displaced in Yemen and close to 3,000 have fled the conflict to Djibouti, according to the UN. The International Organization for Migration estimated that 22 million Yemenis are in urgent need of humanitarian aid amidst severe health and water system damages.