Background And Origins

The Yemeni Civil War: A Complex and Ongoing Conflict

Background and Origins

The Yemeni civil war is a complex and ongoing multilateral conflict that began in late 2014. The roots of the conflict can be traced back to the Houthi rebellion in 2004, which stemmed from grievances over political and economic marginalization by the government.

Key Players

The major players in the conflict include:

• The internationally recognized government of Yemen, led by President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi
• The Houthi movement, a Zaydi Shia rebel group
• A coalition of Yemeni tribes and armed groups
• Saudi Arabia, leading a coalition of Gulf Arab states supporting the government
• Iran, accused of providing support to the Houthis

The conflict has become a proxy war between regional powers, with Saudi Arabia and Iran vying for influence in Yemen.