Houthi Rebellion
The Houthis, a sizable Shiite clan from the northwest Sa'dah region, launched an armed uprising against the government in Yemen, but it has since evolved into a massive proxy conflict akin to the one in Syria. Although the conflict dates back much longer, the current phase started in 2014 when rebels took control of Sana'a, Yemen's capital and largest city, as well as the presidential palace.
A coalition of ten nations, including Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, and Pakistan, as well as the US provided armaments and logistical support, launched a military campaign to retake the city in March of the same year. Even while it failed to drive the rebels from their positions, it did cause a humanitarian catastrophe for the civilian population, which has come to define this conflict to this day. What began as a small-scale uprising against price hikes and corruption has since expanded into a global proxy conflict with no apparent conclusion in sight.
The movement is more based on the Iranian Islamic revolution than, say, Al- Qaeda's, despite the opposition labeling it an extreme movement, which it also is in many aspects. Speaking of which, both the government and the rebels are being opposed by Al-Qaeda, which is also fighting with the Islamic State.
Date: 18 June 2004 – 16 September 2014(10 years, 2 months, 4 weeks and 1 day)
Location: Former North Yemen
Result: Houthi victory in North Yemen; Conflict escalates into a full-scale civil war with the Yemeni government and foreign intervention
- Houthi rebels take over Sa'dah and establish an independent administration in Sa'dah Governorate and parts of 'Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah.
- Houthis take control of Sanaa
- Yemeni government under President Hadi relocated from Sanaa to Aden
