Yemen & Sana a Security Summary

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1 Yemen & Security Summary March 2018

2 Contents Overview Yemen Terrorism Humanitarian Situation Yemen Recent Incidents Overview Conflict Summary Recent Incidents

3 Overview: Yemen Yemen, the poorest country in the Middle East, is currently in the midst of a brutal civil war, one driven foremost by unresolved political disputes between the population s dominant ethnosectarian groups, but compounded by regional geopolitical rivalries, namely that between Saudi Arabia (with US support) and Iran (widely seen as increasingly emboldened and active in its support of militant Shia groups beyond its borders). The humanitarian consequences have been devastating, and the severe level of insecurity nationwide every western foreign office currently warns against undertaking any travel to Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa. In addition to the dangers posed by ongoing military conflict and the extreme kidnap and terrorism threats facing foreigners (particularly Westerners) are chronic health hazards and major operational challenges. While security in Sanaa is better than in most other parts of the country, it is not exempt from any of these threats and risks airstrikes against the city continue, terrorists are active, and the provision of basic amenities severely reduced and unreliable. Access to Sanaa itself, while not impossible, is extremely challenging, typically requiring overland route from Oman (no civilian carriers currently fly to Sanaa International Airport, which, alongside political restrictions, has been intermittently bombed since 2015). The conflict in Yemen began in 2011 when president Ali Abdullah Saleh ceded power to his deputy Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi following a popular uprising during the so-called Arab Spring. Hadi failed to cope with several issues in Yemen including; terrorist attacks, corruption, unemployment and food shortages. The Houthi movement, which is loyal to Saleh and believed to be backed militarily by Iran, took advantage of Hadi s weakness and took control of Saada province and neighbouring areas. Hadi was forced to flee out of Yemen in March 2015 after the Houthi s attempted to take control of the entire country. Hadi is now believed to be in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. Since 2015, fighting has been ongoing with various attempts at peace deals failing. Saudi Arabia and 8 other mostly Sunni Arab States formed a coalition, conducting an air campaign aimed at restoring Hadi. The Saudi-led coalition has received support for the UK, US and France. In November 2014 a dispute over control of Sanaa s biggest mosque resulted in violent clashes and an end to the alliance between Saleh and the Houthi s. Saleh attempted to broker a deal with the Saudiled coalition to which the Houthi s accused him of staging a coup. On 4 December 2016 it was announced that Saleh had been killed whilst attempting to flee in an attack on his convoy. Since then, infighting among pro-government forces has erupted. Separatists seeking independence for south Yemen forged an allegiance with those loyal to Hadi. In January 2018 the Southern Transitional Council (STC) demanded the removal of Prime Minister Ahmed bin Daghar. Daghar rejected the call which led to separatist units attempting to take control of government facilities in Aden. The situation is also complex with divisions within the Saudi-led coalition, whilst the UAE is closely aligned with separatists.

Terrorism AQAP (al-qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) and IS (Islamic State) have taken advantage of the chaos in Yemen by taking over territory in the south and have also been responsible for numerous

4 Terrorism AQAP (al-qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) and IS (Islamic State) have taken advantage of the chaos in Yemen by taking over territory in the south and have also been responsible for numerous deadly attacks. Humanitarian Situation The UN says that the situation in Yemen is the world s worst manmade humanitarian disaster. More than 9,245 people have been killed and 52,800 injured since March Saudi-led coalition air strikes are the leading cause of civilian casualties. 75% of the population (22.2 million people) need humanitarian aid. Severe acute malnutrition is threatening the lives of almost 400,000 children and at least 16.4 million people are lacking basic healthcare. The world s largest cholera outbreak has resulted in over 1 million cases and more than 2,200 deaths since April million people have been forced to flee from their homes with 2 million still displaced.

5 Terrorism Saudi & Yemen Other Yemen Recent Incidents Date Location Details 18-Mar-18 Nationwide The WHO says a diphtheria outbreak in war-torn Yemen has spread rapidly nationwide and infected more than 1,300 people. Children and young adults account for almost 80 per cent of cases and more than 70 people have died 18-Mar-18 Ibb Governorate Gunmen, suspected to be Houthis militants, have raided several hotels in Ibb Governorate. 3 hotel guests are understood to have been kidnapped 17-Mar-18 Al-Bayda Province At least 6 Yemeni soldiers were killed in clashes with Houthi rebels 17-Mar-18 Jizan Yemeni army snipers have killed 6 Saudi troops during retaliatory operations 15-Mar-18 Marib Province Local security forces have intercepted a shipment of arms hidden in a truck which was en-route to Houthi held territories in northern Yemen. 15-Mar-18 Oman Saudi officials and Houthi rebels have held months of secret talks on ending Yemen's devastating 3-year war. The warring parties discussed ways to halt the conflict that has left 22 million Yemenis in dire need of humanitarian assistance. The war has killed an estimated 10,000 people, left millions facing famine, and initiated a major outbreak of disease. Spokesman Mohammed Abdul-Salam had met Saudi officials in neighbouring Oman 13-Mar-18 Aden At least 6 people were killed when a SIED blew up an explosive-rigged vehicle at a kitchen-diner in a military camp run by UAE-backed and trained Security Belt. Dozens of soldiers and civilians were also injured in the attack that battered the building and set fire to cars. IS immediately claimed responsibly for the attack on its social media accounts 5-Mar-18 Aden A senior security official was shot dead in Yemen's coastal city of Aden. Unidentified gunmen opened fire on Abdul Karim Abdullah, the deputy security chief of the 7th security zone, inside a restaurant 28-Feb-18 North and west Air strikes killed 9 civilians and wounded at least 6 in two separate attacks in by the coalition fighting against the Yemen Houthi movement 24-Feb-18 At least 14 people have been killed and 40 wounded when vehicle SIEDs and gunmen tried to storm the HQ of a Tawahi District, Yemeni counter-terrorism unit. IS claimed responsibility for what it described as 2 martyrdom operations Aden targeting the camp 18-Feb-18 Nationwide Already dealing with severe malnutrition and a cholera epidemic, many people in Yemen are now dying from what is thought to be bird flu. As the country faces this new health crisis, hospitals remain critically short of resources after 28-Jan-18 Aden years of conflict has caused the country's health system to crumble Clashes broke out between forces loyal to Yemen s international recognized elected government and UAE-backed southern separatists. Local sources suggest that several people were killed during fighting. Heavy automatic gunfire and explosions were heard throughout districts of the city, as armed separatists are reported to have taken over the government HQ and other government buildings from soldiers loyal to Saudi-backed President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi

6 28-Jan Jan-18 7-Jan Dec Dec-17 and 19-Dec Dec Dec Dec Nov-17 1-Nov-17 Shabwa Ataq, Shabwa Saadah Province Souk al-shahra, Taiz Province Bayda Governorate and Marib Governorate Marib Governorate Saadah Riyadh Aden Saadah Scores of Yemenis have taken to the streets of the southern province of Shabwa after a US drone attack killed at least 7 civilians. The attack decimated a car carrying at least 6 male members of the same family and another individual as they were searching for a missing child At least 15 people were killed in a suicide car bomb attack on a checkpoint in south-eastern Yemen run by local forces backed by the UAE A warplane from the Saudi-led military alliance fighting in Yemen has crashed after suffering a technical failure. According to rebel-run al-masirah television, Houthi rebels claimed they shot down the plane. The Saudi-led coalition carried out a special operation to rescue the 2 pilots, who both survived the crash uninjured At least 20 people are reported to have been killed and dozens more wounded in a series of Saudi-led air raids on a market in southwestern Yemen. Sources told Al Jazeera that coalition raids struck a popular market in a Houthi rebels-held area US forces conducted 8 airstrikes in Yemen in December and 10 airstrikes in January targeting both AQAP and IS in Yemen. A 15 Dec airstrike killed AQAP external operations facilitator Miqdad al-sanaani in Bayda governorate, and a 19 Dec airstrike killed AQAP deputy arms facilitator Habib al-sanaani in Marib governorate. Sanaani was an intermediary with ties to senior AQAP leadership and was responsible for facilitating the movement of weapons, explosives and finances into Yemen At least 8 women and 2 girls heading home from a wedding have been killed in an air attack in central-west Yemen, a health official has told Al Jazeera. The women s vehicle was struck by 3 Saudi-led coalition air raids Air raids by a Saudi-led military coalition across Yemen have been blamed for killing 11 civilians, a day after Houthi rebels fired a ballistic missile at the Saudi capital, Riyadh. 11 people were killed including women and children and 19 others wounded during the raids A Saudi-led coalition battling Yemen s Houthi rebels says it has intercepted a missile fired from the neighbouring country towards the kingdom s capital, Riyadh. Houthi rebels said on Tuesday they had launched a ballistic missile targeting al-yamama royal palace to mark 1,000 days since the coalition started its bombing campaign in Yemen. A SIED reportedly detonated explosives in a car outside a security force headquarters building used by the Saudi-led coalition in Aden, killing at least 15 people and injuring 20 others. Clashes erupted immediately following the attack. Significant material damage to the building was reported. The attack took place in a densely-populated area of the city with many schools and commercial establishments. An IS affiliate group claimed responsibility for the attack An airstrike by a Saudi-led military coalition has killed 21 people at a market. The attack that reduced the site to a heap of twisted sheet metal. Medics gathered corpses and laid them in a group

7 Overview: is the largest city in Yemen and is the capital of the country under the Yemeni constitution. The seat of the internationally recognised government moved to Aden following the Yemeni coup and as a result Aden was declared as the temporary capital by Hadi. is at an elevation of 2,300 metres and had a population of approximately 2 million in The Old City of has a distinctive architectural character, expressed in its multi-storey buildings with geometric patterns. Unfortunately, the ongoing conflict has resulted in massive destruction within the city and many of the historical buildings have suffered significant damage from airstrikes. A no-fly zone has been imposed throughout Yemen since the conflict began in As of March 2015, civilian flights ceased operation to and from international airport and a total blockade was imposed in August The airport has been subjected to airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition leaving the runway and buildings, including the passenger terminal, severely damaged. On 23 November 2017, Saudi authorities allowed the airport to reopen for aid flights only and on 25 November aircraft carrying humanitarian aid landed in, the first aircraft to do so since August Conflict Summary Since early 2015, The Houthi Movement, which supports Yemen s Zaidi Shia Muslim minority along with Sunnis s and ordinary Yeminis have been in control of. The location of is seen as a central point for several major roads in Yemen and is an area that the Houthi s do not want to lose control of. Saudi-led coalition fighter jets have been pounding enemy positions in, numerous buildings, including governmental and residential, have suffered massive damage or have been destroyed, resulting in many civilian casualties. There has been an escalation in air strikes as the Saudi-led coalition forces increase their efforts against the Houthi in. Since the death of Saleh, the Houthi have set up new checkpoints in the city and have begun to arrest Saleh supporters. Yemen army forces on the ground in support of Hadi want to surround in an ambitious plan to take back the capital from the Houthi s and several gains have been made in recent months. If the forces manage to infiltrate the city, the ensuing battle will no doubt be bloody with the risk of more civilian casualties extremely high. Houthi troops will be well equipped and poised for any attempt by pro-government forces. Many weapons shipments destined for the Houthi s have been intercepted in recent months by progovernment forces. However, it is extremely likely that supplies are still reaching the Houthi s in. The Saudi-led coalition believe that Iran continues to be the source of the resupply to the Houthi. Kidnapping in is a serious risk, with the Houthi seeing it as an easy retaliation tactic for the ongoing airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition. In recent months Houthis have been responsible for kidnapping UN workers and journalists in the city. In a reported peace plan, the Houthi requested to be left in control of, it was rejected by the Yemeni government.

8 Recent Incidents Date Location Details 16-Mar-18 Yemeni army forces seized the last mountainous area under the control of the Houthi s in Al Minsa, and strategic positions in Al Maysara Front in Nihem district, east of. The National Army, supported by coalition fighter jets, managed to take control of the last locations within the mountain 12-Mar-18 The ministry said fighter jets from the coalition hit military bases and gatherings of Al Houthis in the. Residents reported hearing thunderous explosions that rocked after the coalition s fighter jets fired missiles at Al Daylami airbase 8-Mar-18 Houthi rebels have kidnapped two United Nations employees in and placed them in a dark, two-metersquare room, according to a local source. The 2 UN staff members were not allowed to drink or use the toilet for six days. 7-Mar-18 The coalition rejected allegations over an air raid in Yemen s rebel-held capital, which witnesses said 6 Shamlan District, members of the same family were killed. Locals said the strike on the two-storey house took place at around 9pm local time 6-Mar-18 Sana s A group of ousted president s supporters have said the Houthi s are still holding the body of Saleh, refuting previous media reports about his burial. Senior members of Saleh s General People s Congress, who have opted to live inside Houthi-held, urged Houthi s to release Saleh s body and also his relatives who were detained after his death. Houthis ruthlessly killed Saleh on December 4 after he led a brief military uprising in. Rebels subsequently mounted a large crackdown targeting Saleh s military and civilian supporters, who opposed their repressive rule. The General Committee renews its demand for handing over the body of martyr Ali Abdullah Saleh for burial and 3-Mar Dec-17 4-Dec-17 Issue: 2-Dec Nihm District, the need for releasing his children and relatives, the statement said. A confrontation between the coalition and Yemen s Houthi movement across the war-battered country has left around 80 people dead on both sides. More than 55 died and dozens more were wounded in Province s Nihm District, northwest of the country s capital. The sources also said fighting killed at least 25 people on both sides along Yemen's west coast. At least 30 prisoners have been killed in coalition air strikes. Dozens of people were also injured in 7 raids targeting facilities controlled by Houthi rebels, including the prison housing about 180 prisoners at the time of the attack Yemen's ousted leader Saleh has been killed by Houthi rebels near the capital,, a development expected to have major implications for the war in the Arab world's poorest country. The death was first announced on 4 Dec by the -based interior ministry, controlled by Saleh's allies-turned-foes, the Houthi rebel group. Footage circulating on social media appeared to display a body resembling Saleh, with one video showing how armed militia members used a blanket to move the corpse into the back of a pick-up truck Houthi rebels in Yemen have held dozens of journalist s captive for days at a television station in the capital and a media watchdog has demanded their immediate release. The rebels launched rocket-propelled grenades at the headquarters of the Yemen Al Youm TV channel before storming the station and holding hostage 41 employees inside. 3 security guards were wounded in the attack

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Introduction. Definition of Key Terms. Security Council. The Question of Yemen. Student Officer: Humna Shahzad

Introduction. Definition of Key Terms. Security Council. The Question of Yemen. Student Officer: Humna Shahzad Forum: Issue: Security Council The Question of Yemen Student Officer: Humna Shahzad Position: Deputy President Introduction Yemen being an Arab country in the middle east, wasn t always like the country