Yemen Heats Up

Over the last few months, Saudi Arabia and Yemen have been fighting Shia rebels known as the Hawthis. For nearly five years the Hawthis have waged an uprising against the Yemenite government, but only recently has this conflict spilled over the border into Saudi Arabia, with some clear consequences for regional stability. In August, Yemen launched ‘Operation Scorched Earth’ aimed at driving the Hawthi rebels from their positions in Northern Yemen. Later that month, a suicide attack by a supposed former militant based in Yemen against Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Naye, who is in charge of the kingdom’s anti-terror efforts, was a wake up call.

Iran has been accused by the Arabs of supplying kit to the Hawthi rebels, their fellow Shia brethren. In turn, Iran leveled a warning to Arab states to not interfere in the internal affairs of Yemen. Last week, Saudi Arabia conducted multiple air raids just over its border with Yemen, and yesterday it instituted a naval blockade against Northern Yemen. Alongside these movements, the Saudis are stationing increasing numbers of troops on the border with Yemen and have declared the area a ‘closed military zone.’ This ups the ante and clearly demonstrates Saudi concern with Yemen. Aside from the Hawthi uprising, Yemen is now the proclaimed base for ‘al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’, which runs al-Qaeda operations in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. So, Yemen is now the site of an ongoing Shia-Sunni battle of sorts, as well as the regional home for Al-Qaeda.