YEMEN 'S CRISIS: THE HOUTHIS TAKE OVER A struggle for power By King David
In the early 1990's the Houthis began as a religious peace group, Ansar Allah (Partisans of God) 2004—hundreds die as troops battle Shia insurgency 2005—the Houthis besieged a religious school, clashes occurred and hundreds died After the Salalis religious group agreed to leave the province the Houthis clashed the Islah Party and army brigades allied to it. 2007—scores are killed or wounded in clashes between security forces and Houthi Rebels 2007—Houthis accept a ceasefire
Houthis allegiance to dead rebel leader—Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi He declared war on the Yemen government in 2004
Yemen is the poorest country in the Middle East It has a population of 24 million Its religion is mainly Islam, only 3000 Christians and 400 Jews The capital city is Sanaa—meaning fortified place
Major competitors in the war The Yemen Government Houthi Rebels Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) Al-Islah—a Sunni Islamist political movement, whose leaders are targeted by the Houthis Al-Hirak—(Southern Yemen) has a strong secessionist movement Former president Ali Abdullah al-Saleh and General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmer: these two distant cousins ran the country for decades before falling out because Saleh refused to quit in the face of an "Arab Spring"
Houthis' demands of the Yemen government Protested, urged the government to step down Demanded fuel subsidies be reinstated Demanded the government reflect the seats allocated to political groups during Yemen's 10 month National Dialogue Conference
Violence is common in Yemen 2008—Renewed clashes between security forces and Houthi Rebels 2009—Tens of thousands of people are displaced as Yemeni army attacks Houthi Rebels in Saada 2009—Northern Rebels and Saudi security forces clash along the two countries' border 2010—Government signs ceasefire with northern rebels
Allies in the war Yemen government allies Saudi Arabia United States and the UK They strongly backed a political settlement in Yemen following an uprising against the country's president Houthis' Allies Iran—although Iran's physically arming the Houthis is disputed, a ship carrying weapons from Iran was seized in Yemen in 2013.
The First War The first war with the government erupted in 2004 on grounds of self-defense. The then President Saleh saw the Houthis as a challenge to his rule The Houthi supporters protested in Mosques in the capital
AL QAEDA'S AFFILIATE IN YEMEN INCLUDES THE MOST POTENT BOMB MAKER IN THE TERRORIST WORLD AL QAEDA STILL POSES A DIRECT THREAT TO AMERICANS SINCE 2009 THE U.S. HAS THWARTED AT LEAST THREE PLOTS BY THE GROUP TO BRING DOWN AIRLINES YEMEN SERVED AS A PARTNER IN AMERICAN COUNTERTERRORISM OPERATION AGAINST AL QAEDA The United States's Main Concern
ALTHOUGH THE HOUTHIS REPRESENT JUST A QUARTER OF YEMEN'S POPULATION, THEY WILL NEVER RULE THE COUNTRY, BUT THEY SEEM STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD ABAY AL-QAEDA'S MILITANTS Houthis' Strength and Value
Houthis and Al-Qaeda in Yemen
Houthis despises the U.S. U.S. connection to Yemen This government is a puppet in the hands of influential forces, which is indifferent to the rightful and sincere demands of these people Houthi are Anti-Western and Pro-Iran Houthis carry flags saying, "Death to America, Death to Isreal"
War continues 2010—Yemen says 3,000 soldiers killed in outbreak of fighting involving Houthi Rebels 2011—President Saleh agrees to hand over power to his deputy Abdrabbu mans our Hadi Hadi is elected President in 2012 Houthis continue their stand against Yemen
Houthis seize the capital 2014—Houthis Rebels take control of the capital Sanaa The Houthis rejects the draft of a new constitution proposed by the government Houthi Rebels say they are seizing power and that a transitional five-member presidential council will replace President Hadi
Saudi to the rescue President Hadi flees house arrest in Sanaa, escapes to Eden A Saudi led coalition of Arab States mounts airstrikes on Houthis
The UN's warning: "Yemen is on the verge of total collapse"