Background: This week marks a drastic decline in relations between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and the country’s Houthi rebels. The Yemen Civil War has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, destabilization in the country, tens-of-thousands of people killed, and millions of people displaced. This timeline of the conflict provides a broad and quick overview of the Houthi Movement in Yemen and the resulting Civil War.
1992: The Houthi Movement begins in the Saada governorate in Yemen under the leadership of Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi. The Houthi Movement starts as a modern theological movement based on Zaidi Shia beliefs to revive their religious autonomy and culture. Followers of Zaidism have traditionally lived in the mountains of Saada, which borders Saudi Arabia. In the late ’80s, Saudi-funded Salafi institutes were incorporated into Saada, which led to the marginalization of the Zaidis.
2003: The United States (US) 2003 invasion of Iraq leads to the radicalization of some Zaidis in the movement and a political shift in the Houthi Movement. Houthis oppose the war in Iraq. Anti-American and anti-Semitic messaging arises in the Saada governorate. Houthi leader Hussein al-Houthi criticizes the President of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh, for his ties with the US and western powers.
2004: Conflict begins between the Houthis and the Yemeni government. Hussein al-Houthi is assassinated and his brother, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, becomes the leader of the Houthi Movement. The Houthis receive support from Iran in a proxy war against Saudi Arabia who supports the Yemeni government.
2004-2014: The Iranian-backed Houthis entered a war against the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. This event is known as the Houthi rebellion, rebellion wars, or Sa’dah conflict.
2011: The Arab Spring reaches Yemen. In the Yemeni Revolution several groups, including the Houthis, call for President Saleh to step down, which he does after a bomb attack at his presidential compound. Iranian-backed Houthis gain control of Saada governorate and Al Jawf governorate in Yemen.
2012: Houthis also gain control of the Hajjah governorate. This allows them access to the Red Sea and enables them to plan an attack on the Yemeni capital of Sanaa.
27 Feb 2012: President Saleh steps down and is replaced by his deputy, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. New President Hadi is also Saudi-backed.
2014-Present: This year marks the beginning of the Yemeni Civil War which continues to the present day. This follows the failed National Dialogue Conference (NDC) moderated by the United Nations and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
2014: The Houthis gain control of part of Sanaa, which allows them to spread control to other smaller towns in the area. During this time former president Saleh joined forces with the Houthis to provide support from the parts of the Yemeni military and government that are still loyal to him. A formal alliance is announced in 2016. Al-Qaeda opposes and challenges Houthi opposition. Al-Qaeda is a Sunni Islam organization. As military forces begin to block off entry points to Yemen, the humanitarian crisis begins to spread as aid is unable to reach Yemeni citizens.
2015: The Houthi rebels take control of the Yemeni government and dissolve its parliament. President Hadi flees to Saudi Arabia. The 2015 Sana’a Mosque Bombings target two Houthi mosques and 142 Houthi worshippers are killed and 351 are injured. This is the deadliest terrorist attack in Yemen’s history. The Islamic State (IS) takes responsibility for these attacks. Saudi Arabia begins to lead airstrikes in Yemen. The US and other countries are accused of supporting the terrorist attacks and Saudi-led airstrikes in Yemen against the Houthis. Over the next four years, at least 19,000 Saudi-led attacks are reported including bombings of hospitals and schools, killing thousands of Yemeni civilians.
2017: Former President Saleh formally splits from the Houthis and two days later is killed by Houthi fighters.
2019: The Houthis claim responsibility for an air attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil fields, which disrupts half the kingdom’s oil production, which is about 5% of global oil output. The US accuses Iran of the attacks. UAE withdraws support from their ally, Saudi Arabia, citing international criticism of their conduct. UAE also withdraws military forces from Yemen. Peace deals and moderated ceasefires during this time are unsuccessful.
2021: On the last day of US President Donald Trump’s presidency, the United States designates the Houthis as a terrorist organization. This creates concerns about aid to Yemeni citizens who require humanitarian assistance to survive. This designation was revoked by new US President Biden’s administration only about a month later. In March 2021, the United Nations raises alarm over expanded fighting in the region and the humanitarian crisis. Over the last month, there has been a Saudi-led blockade of Sanaa’s airport, a deadly fire in a Sanaa migrant camp from Houthi projectiles, Saudi-led air raids on Sanaa, and drone attacks from Houthis on oil refineries in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.
Humanitarian Crisis: In 2021, the Yemen Civil War is the largest humanitarian crisis in the world. UNICEF reports that 2.3 million children under five are projected to suffer acute malnutrition. More than 24 million people or 80% of the Yemeni population require humanitarian assistance and are suffering from hunger and malnutrition. This includes over 12 million children. This crisis is amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, limited supply of clean water, increasing malnourishment, and lack of healthcare facilities and personnel.
AK Wilson – Freelance journalist based out of the United States
