An ongoing multilateral civil war in Yemen involving regional powers and proxy forces, causing over 150,000 direct deaths and a severe humanitarian crisis.
Key Facts
- War began
- September 2014, Houthi takeover of Sanaa
- Direct deaths (UN estimate)
- Over 150,000 people
- Famine & healthcare deaths
- Over 227,000 estimated people
- Civilian bombing casualties
- ~19,196 killed or injured (to March 2022) people
- UN truce established
- 2 April 2022, extended twice
- Presidential Leadership Council formed
- 7 April 2022, replacing Hadi government
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Political instability following the 2011 Arab Spring weakened Yemen's central government. The Houthi movement, backed by forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, exploited this vacuum. Tensions between the internationally recognized government of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and the Houthi movement escalated through 2014, setting the stage for armed conflict rooted in sectarian, political, and regional grievances.
In September 2014, Houthi forces seized the capital Sanaa. By March 2015, they declared a general mobilization to overthrow President Hadi, advancing into southern provinces. Saudi Arabia launched a military coalition with airstrikes to restore the Hadi government. The conflict drew in multiple factions including the Southern Transitional Council, AQAP, and the Islamic State, while Iran provided support to the Houthis, widening the war into a regional proxy conflict.
The war produced one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters, with over 150,000 direct deaths and 227,000 estimated casualties from famine and collapsed healthcare. Yemen fractured among competing authorities, with Houthis controlling former North Yemen and separatists holding parts of the south. International diplomatic efforts including UN-brokered truces and a Chinese-mediated Iran-Saudi deal have sought a resolution, but as of late 2023 the conflict remained unresolved.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
3 belligerents
Rashad al-Alimi, Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi (until 2022).
Side B
2 belligerents
Mahdi al-Mashat, Ali Abdullah Saleh (until 2017).