the yemen crisis (1)
TRANSCRIPT
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
It's religion is mainly Islam, only 3000 Christians and 400 Jews
The capital city is Sanaa—meaning fortified place
Major competitor
s 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 despises the U.S.
U.S. connection to YemenThis 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
NAME 3 COMPETITORS IN THE YEMEN CRISIS WITH THE HOUTHIS?
WHY IS THE U.S. INVOLVED IN THE YEMEN CRISIS?WHEN DID THE FIRST WAR BEGIN BETWEEN YEMEN AND THE HOUTHIS?
NAME TWO DEMANDS THE HOUTHIS MADE TO THE YEMEN GOVERNMENT
WHAT COUNTRY CAME TO THE YEMEN GOVERNMENT'S RESCUE WHEN THE HOUTHIS SEIZED THE CAPITAL?
Test questions