Unraveling the Yemen Proxy War: A Civilian Toll in Escalating Conflict

YEMEN PROXY WARS Student’s Name: Course: Date: Yemen Proxy Wars Executive Summary Civil wars and conflicts in Yemen escalated when the Houthis took over the capital Sanaa in 2014 and a Saudi-led coalition supported President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi’s efforts to regain his position. The involvement of external forces have depicted the conflict as proxy wars between Saudi Arabia and Iran whose government has supported the Houthis. Initially, the Zaidi Shia group Houthis seized the capital in an attempt to influence political change and end corruption in the Yemeni government. The influence of the Saudi-led coalition and Iran into the conflict has escalated the extent of the military and political conflict in the country. Additionally, the death toll has increased as millions of Yemeni citizens being exposed to starvation and lack of basic resources such as water. Both the Iran and the Saudi interferences in the conflict have directed the outcome of the conflict to a regional scale with less focus on the impact the wars have on civilians and resources in Yemen. Past and Future Trajectory The conflict between the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen and the Houthis has only recently gained public attention leveling that of the Syrian conflict. However, the war in the country and the impact on civilians has existed since 21st September, 2014 when the Zaidi Shia group seized the capital Sanaa. The Houthis had the president Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi under house arrest alongside members of his family and cabinet. Following Hadi’s escape, his coalition was aided by Saudi Arabia to undertake bombings in an aid to recover control from the Houthis. The conflict has since become a proxy war between powers aiming to restore their desired individuals into the country’s leadership. Primarily, Saudi Arabia has supported the coalition government and provided weapons, resources, and training to the soldiers. On the other hand, Iran has provided resources including bombings to assist Houthis leading to bombings in Yemen and in Saudi Arabia itself. Figure 1: Tota