The Yemenese Houthi War, also known as the Yemeni Civil War, is a complex and devastating conflict rooted in historical grievances, sectarian divides, political instability, and regional rivalries. Its origins trace back decades, but the most recent and destructive phase began in 2014 and continues to evolve today with far-reaching humanitarian, geopolitical, and economic implications.
The roots of the conflict lie in the marginalization of the Zaidi Shia Muslim community, particularly in northern Yemen. The Zaidis, who once ruled parts of Yemen for nearly a millennium under an imamate system, saw their influence wane after the 1962 revolution that overthrew the Zaidi imamate and established the Yemen Arab Republic. The new republican regime, backed by Egypt and later allied with Sunni power structures, gradually sidelined Zaidi interests. Over the following decades, successive governments failed to integrate the northern highlands politically and economically, fostering a sense of resentment and alienation among the Zaidi population.
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Rise of the Houthi Movement
In the 1990s and early 2000s, this frustration gave rise to a revivalist movement led by Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi, a religious leader from the northern Saada governorate. The movement, named after its leader, initially focused on cultural and religious rights, opposing what it viewed as Saudi Arabia’s growing influence and the spread of Salafism in traditionally Zaidi areas. However, by 2004, tensions with the central government under President Ali Abdullah Saleh escalated into armed confrontation. Hussein al-Houthi was killed in the first of six wars between the Houthis and the government, collectively known as the Saada Wars (2004–2010). Despite military efforts, the Yemeni government failed to defeat the insurgency, and the Houthis became increasingly organized and militant.
The Arab Spring and a Fragile Transition
The 2011 Arab Spring upheavals brought about significant political shifts in Yemen. Popular protests against corruption, unemployment, and political repression forced President Saleh to resign after more than three decades in power. His deputy, Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, took over in a transitional government supported by a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) initiative. However, Hadi’s government struggled to maintain order, facing challenges from southern separatists, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), and economic decline. The National Dialogue Conference, meant to unify the country’s factions and chart a path forward, ended in disappointment for many, especially the Houthis, who saw it as marginalizing their interests.
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The Houthi Takeover and the Escalation into War
By 2014, the Houthis capitalized on widespread public discontent, government weakness, and tribal alliances to launch a military offensive. In September of that year, they seized the capital, Sana’a, and effectively took control of the government. President Hadi fled to Aden, and later into exile in Saudi Arabia. The Houthis, now in alliance with their former enemy, ex-president Saleh, consolidated power in northern and western Yemen.
This marked a turning point, drawing in external powers and transforming Yemen’s internal conflict into a full-scale regional war. Alarmed by what it perceived as Iranian support for the Houthis and the threat to regional stability, Saudi Arabia launched a military intervention in March 2015 under a coalition of mostly Arab states. The operation, initially code-named “Decisive Storm,” aimed to restore Hadi’s internationally recognized government and curb Iranian influence in the Arabian Peninsula.
Humanitarian Crisis and Stalemate
Despite years of airstrikes, ground battles, and naval blockades, the Saudi-led coalition failed to decisively defeat the Houthis. The conflict descended into a brutal stalemate. Civilian casualties mounted due to indiscriminate bombings, siege tactics, and economic blockades. Hospitals, schools, and basic infrastructure were decimated, while hunger and disease surged. The United Nations has consistently described the situation in Yemen as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with millions displaced and at risk of famine.
The Death of Saleh and Further Fragmentation
In 2017, the alliance between the Houthis and Ali Abdullah Saleh fractured violently. Saleh attempted to switch sides and reconcile with Saudi Arabia, but the Houthis accused him of treason and killed him in December 2017. His death left the Houthis as the sole power brokers in the capital and northern Yemen, while forces loyal to Hadi continued to hold parts of the south and east.
Since then, the war has further fragmented Yemen. Southern separatists, organized under the Southern Transitional Council (STC), have pushed for independence in the south, leading to clashes with pro-Hadi forces. Al-Qaeda and ISIS-affiliated groups remain active, exploiting the chaos. Meanwhile, local militias and tribal forces hold sway in many regions, creating a patchwork of competing authorities.
International Mediation and Fragile Ceasefires
International diplomatic efforts, including UN-mediated peace talks, have produced temporary ceasefires but failed to end the war. A fragile truce brokered in 2022 brought relative calm to some areas, but comprehensive peace remains elusive. The war’s regional dimensions continue to complicate negotiations, with Saudi Arabia seeking an exit from a costly and unpopular intervention, while Iran maintains its support—both political and allegedly military—for the Houthi movement.
Houthi Strikes Beyond Yemen
In recent years, the Houthis have launched drone and missile attacks on Saudi territory, including oil infrastructure, and more recently targeted shipping lanes in the Red Sea, triggering further international condemnation and involvement. These actions highlight the group’s growing military capabilities and the broader implications of the conflict on global trade and security.
The Current State of the War
As of 2025, the Houthi movement maintains de facto control over large swathes of northern Yemen, including Sana’a. The Hadi government has lost influence, and although the Presidential Leadership Council was formed in 2022 to unite anti-Houthi forces, internal divisions remain. Yemen’s future remains uncertain. Without a comprehensive peace agreement that addresses the political, economic, and sectarian dimensions of the conflict, Yemen risks remaining trapped in a cycle of violence and fragmentation.
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A Nation in Need of Rebuilding
The war in Yemen is a tragic illustration of how internal grievances, when mixed with external interventions and regional rivalries, can spiral into a protracted and devastating crisis. Its resolution demands not just a ceasefire, but a long-term commitment to justice, inclusive governance, and reconstruction. The humanitarian cost continues to mount, and unless peace is prioritized over politics, the people of Yemen will continue to suffer the consequences of a war they did not start and cannot end on their own.
