A simple guide to the Yemen conflict

Yemen is back in the global spotlight after the Iran-aligned Houthi group earlier this month made military gains against the forces loyal to the internationally recognised government, tightening its grip over the Red Sea coast.

The latest escalation in the Arab region’s most impoverished nation follows a period of relative calm that had largely held since the United Nations-brokered ceasefire in 2022 between the Iran-aligned group and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.

The Houthi takeover of northwestern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014 had drawn Saudi military intervention. The fighting left tens of thousands dead and millions displaced, creating a humanitarian crisis.

In 2023, Saudi Arabia and the Houthis agreed to a UN roadmap towards a permanent ceasefire after direct talks, but the roadmap was never formalised.

Here’s a simple guide to Yemen’s war, from the Houthi takeover in 2014 to the latest escalation .

The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah (supporters of God), are an armed group in control of mainly northwestern Yemen and several areas close to Saudi Arabia. Since September 10, they have tightened control over the country’s Red Sea coast, a vital shipping lane.

The Houthis from Yemen’s Zaidi Shia minority emerged in the northern mountainous region of Saada in the 1990s, demanding a greater share of power.

They capitalised on the widespread public anger against the weak transitional government that came to power after longtime President Ali Abdullah Saleh was forced to step down following the 2011 Arab Spring protests.