Yemen Conflict Fact Sheet Executive Summary The current conflict in Yemen is comprised of numerous actors that are in constant conflict with one another in an attempt to gain control of the state, or at least portions of it. While the Al Houthi militas are considered the primary belligerent, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Ansar al Sharia, and ISIS are all present and operating in the area. In response to the significant Houthi gains in Sanaa and other key areas, a coalition from the Arab League led primarily by Saudi Arabia has engaged in Operation Decisive Storm. The goal of this operation is to reinstall Yemeni President Hadi, who has since fled the nation. U.S. involvement thus far has been limited to a supportive role, providing intelligence and surveillance to Saudi military forces and a carrier group to aid in the blockade of the country. Historical Background To understand the modern conflict within Yemen, one must recognize the tumultuous history it has had for centuries. Yemen has been home to a great number of competing political movements, religious groups, and tribes. The country as we know it now was a product of a division of the country between the Ottoman and British empires after World War I. The Zaydi Kingdom was established in the north after the war, later becoming the Yemen Arab Republic in 1962. South Yemen remained a British protectorate until 1967 when it became a Communist state. North and South were reunited in 1990, which would later result in a civil war in 1994 when the South attempted to secede and was occupied by the North. Yemen witnessed a revolution in the wake of the Arab Spring uprisings in 2011, which culminated in the National Dialogue Conference (NDC) that was influenced by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The NDC eventually culminated in the resignation of President Saleh, who had ruled for 33 years, and the election of President Hadi in 2012. President Hadi was eventually forced to resign and flee to Aden in late January 2015 after the Houthis took control of the capital of Sana a. He
has since attempted to form a new government in the southern coastal city of Aden, but fled in February after a Houthi advance on the city. Factions Control of Yemen is split between several factions: AlQaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP): AQAP controls a significant portion of eastern Yemen. The Yemeni military has been combatting their influence in this region since the group s major push in 2011. AQAP has also been in conflict with the AlHouthi tribesmen. AQAP is reportedly working with Ansar al Sharia in central Yemen. AlHouthi: (AKA Ansarollah, or God s partisans) the AlHouthi tribesmen of northern Yemen are a Zaydi Shia group who inhabit the northern mountains. While they do share some basic similarities to traditional Shiism, Zaydis have several distinct beliefs that set them apart. The group was started by the AlHouthi brothers in 1992, then called the Believing Youth party. Initially a group that focused on reinvigorating Zaydism, the group became militant and radicalized in the 2000s and were a major player in the 2011 revolution. They would eventually reject the National Dialogue Conference government reforms which resulted from the revolution. The Houthis are financially supported and armed by the Iranian government. Saleh Loyalists: there is still a significant contingent of fighters who are loyal to former President Saleh. Saleh has aligned himself with the Houthi movement and has been instrumental in the group s gains in the south. Southern Movement: formed in 2007, this group is a holdover from the 1994 civil war. It aims to promote secession of the South. This group is in conflict primarily with the national government. Hadi Loyalists: President Hadi is still considered the rightful leader of Yemen by a majority of the regional powers including the GCC. He is being backed financially and militarily by Saudi Arabia. According to the most recent reports, he fled Yemen when the Houthis made a push to the southern coastal city of Aden. Arab League Coalition: a military coalition made up of the GCC, Egypt and select other Arab league members has agreed to the formulation of a military task force to help suppress the Houthis and reinstall President Hadi. Led predominantly by Saudi Arabia, this organization is being supported by U.S. intelligence and surveillance. Islamic State of Iraq and AlSham (ISIS): ISIS has claimed several attacks in Yemen but evidence as to their actual presence or control of territory is unclear. The group supposedly has affiliates operating in the same areas in central/eastern Yemen where Al Qaeda maintains presence.
Islamic Republic of Iran: Iran has played a significant role in supporting and supplying the Houthi rebellion. There have been allegations that Iranian Quds Force advisors have been directly aiding Houthi militiamen. These reports are unclear but such involvement would not be surprising given Iran s track record in the region. Iran has also established a significant naval presence along the coast of Yemen. Additionally, Iranian politicians have also been providing a significant amount of political rhetoric in Tehran denouncing Saudi led operations in Yemen. Houthi Areas of Influence* *Courtesy of AEI Critical Threats Operation Decisive Storm Started on March 25, 2015 as an attempt to repel the Houthis. Includes 9 Arab states, including 4 members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC): Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Sudan, Morocco, Egypt, and Jordan. U.S. has provided logistical support including accelerated weapons sales, intelligence, and reconnaissance support to the Saudi led coalition. Most operations thus far have consisted of Saudi led air strikes on various Houthi held targets. Saudi Arabia has committed 150,000 troops and several other members have also pledged ground forces.
Coalition forces, led predominantly by the Egyptian Navy, have engaged in naval bombardments and a blockade of Yemen in an attempt to stop vessels from smuggling Iranian weaponry to the Houthis. The U.S. Navy is providing support for this blockade. The Iranian navy has also deployed vessels in the area, creating the potential for direct conflict with Saudi forces. April 22, 2015: Saudi Arabia announced an official end to Operation Decisive Storm and a follow up called Operation Restoring Hope which purportedly aims to protect civilians from Houthi attacks. Shortly after the announcement, Saudi Arabia once again resumed air strikes against Houthi targets. U.S. Operations & Involvement As of April 2015, U.S. involvement has been mostly limited to a support role, providing surveillance and intelligence to Saudi led airstrikes. April 2014: U.S. anti terror efforts in Yemen were increased. In addition to drone strikes, special operations forces aided Yemeni military in counter terror operations. February 2015: U.S. embassy closes in Yemen and relocates personnel. March 2015: U.S. removes remaining personnel from Yemen, including last 100 remaining troops. U.S. intelligence files on Yemeni counter terror operations were allegedly stolen by Houthi forces shortly after. April 20, 2015: U.S. sends USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier group and USS Normandy to Yemen to monitor Iranian vessels supplying Houthi militas. Iranian Operations & Involvement A February 2015 report by the Congressional Research Service explains that since Iran is a backer of several state and nonstate actors in sectarian conflicts throughout the Middle East, many analysts believe that Iran is directly supporting the Houthi movement. It is important to note that while there are Shia ties between the Houthis and Iranian Shia, they belong to separate interpretations, with Houthis subscribing to the Fiver or Zaydi interpretation and Iranians to the Twelver interpretation. There has been evidence to the claim that Iran is in direct support of the Houthis, despite the Houthi claim that they are not. October 2009: Yemeni navy seizes a ship full of anti tank weapons with five Iranian weapons experts on board off the northwest coast. 2012: an unnamed U.S. official claimed that Iranian smugglers and Quds force operatives were using small boats to supply weapons to Houthi milita. January 2013: Yemen military intercepts weapons shipment send by an IRGC source. The shipment included surface to air missiles, explosives, and RPGs. September 2014: Yemen frees captured Iranians suspected of being IRGC members.
December 2014: An unnamed Iranian official claimed that the IRGC had hundreds of trainers in Yemen working with Houthi fighters. Approximately 100 Houthis went to train in Iran in 2014. On January 25, 2015 Ali Shirazi, an IRGC representative, made a comparison of the Houthi movement to that of Hezbollah, saying Hezbollah was formed in Lebanon as a popular force like Basij (Iran s militia). Similarly popular forces were also formed in Syria and Iraq, and today we are watching the formation of Ansarollah (The Houthis) in Yemen. This reiterated IRGC Gen. Hossein Salami s similar quote days earlier. March 2015: Iranian cargo ship delivers 160180 tons of military equipment at the AlSaleef port in Yemen and is unloaded by Houti militia. Conclusion The varying actors and influences in Yemen make it difficult to ascertain friend from foe. The competing interests of the Hadi government loyalists, the Houthi rebels, and the Sunni terrorist networks like AQAP present a difficult challenge for U.S. policymakers going forward. That being said, Yemen is part of a grander strategy for Iran, which is focused on exerting influence in the region. Based on Iran s track record, it is clear that establishing a foothold, even if it is limited in the case of Yemen, serves a grander purpose. It will be very difficult to create an all encompassing solution that addresses the multitude of threats in the country, but preventing Iran and AQAP from establishing footholds is crucial. For more information, please contact: EMET info@emetonline.org 202.601.7422 P.O. Box 66366 Washington, D.C. 20035