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Yemen War: A Humanitarian and Political Catastrophe in the Middle East

Since September 2014, the Yemeni civil war has become one of the deadliest and longest-running humanitarian crises in the modern world. What began as a Houthi takeover of the capital, Sanaa, rapidly escalated into a regional proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Historical Roots (2011-2014)

The Yemeni crisis traces its origins to the 2011 Arab Spring. Widespread protests forced President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down after 33 years in power, transferring authority to Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. However, the political transition proved fragile, and state institutions weakened. The Houthi movement, long in conflict with the government, exploited this power vacuum. Backed by forces loyal to Saleh, they seized control of Sanaa in September 2014.

Arab Coalition Military Intervention (2015)

In March 2015, a coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates launched "Operation Decisive Storm" to restore Hadi's exiled government. This intervention transformed an internal conflict into a regional war, causing widespread devastation. From the outset, airstrikes targeted civilian infrastructure, triggering a deep humanitarian crisis .

Coalition Rift and Rise of the Southern Transitional Council (2017-2019)

By 2017, deep fractures emerged within the Arab coalition. The UAE backed the formation of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), led by Aidarus Al-Zoubaidi, which sought the secession of South Yemen (the former South Yemen state). In August 2019, STC forces seized the interim capital, Aden, from the internationally recognized government, effectively opening a new front against Saudi Arabia .

UN-Brokered Truce and Peace Efforts (2022-2023)

After eight years of inconclusive war, the United Nations brokered a two-month nationwide truce in April 2022, which was extended several times. The resumption of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia in March 2023, mediated by China, raised hopes for a peaceful resolution and enabled comprehensive peace negotiations.

Red Sea Crisis and Regionalization of the War (2023-2025)

Following the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, the Houthis launched widespread attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, claiming solidarity with Palestinians . These attacks, considered serious violations of international law and potential war crimes [citation:9], prompted a US-led naval coalition and retaliatory airstrikes by the US and UK on Houthi positions in January 2024.

Escalation of Violence Against Civilians (2025)

The year 2025 witnessed a surge in civilian casualties. According to UN reports, an average of one child per day was killed or injured in Yemen, representing a 70% increase compared to the previous year [citation:2]. Israeli airstrikes in September 2025 claimed the lives of dozens of journalists and civilians. Additionally, STC offensives in Hadramawt displaced 3,500 families, acts described by human rights groups as crimes against humanity. Reports documented over 8,000 Houthi violations in Al-Bayda governorate over a decade.

Devastating Humanitarian Crisis

The United Nations reports that one in two Yemeni women is at risk of gender-based violence, and a lack of healthcare services endangers pregnant mothers. According to UNICEF, more than 4.5 million children are out of school in Yemen. Today, Yemen is effectively partitioned into three zones: the Houthi-controlled north, the UAE-backed STC-dominated south, and the weakened central areas under the internationally recognized government.