North of Aden

The North of Yemen has seen intense fighting. Saudi Arabia and Yemen share a 1,500 kilometre border. Saudi Arabia alleges that the Houthi rebels clashed with border guards in an attempt to infiltrate Saudi territory. The Saudis have claimed that their offensive is merely to secure and seal their border,rather than interfere in Yemeni domestic matters. However,the Houthis claim that Saudi ground forces have crossed into Yemeni territory. The dispute is centred over the Jebel-al-Dukhan region. The Houthi’s maintain that air raids have targeted the villages of Shida and Hassama which lie 7 km inside Yemeni territory.

•How is Saudi Arabia involved?

Though Saudi Arabia has traditionally stayed away from using its armed forces it has become increasingly difficult for Saudi Arabia to ignore the growing Houthi threat. The conflict pits the Yemeni government against the rebels. Besides securing its border,Saudi Arabia wants to ensure that the fighting does not spill over into the oil rich country. The Houthis maintain that Saudi Arabia is supporting the Yemeni armed forces fighting the rebels by allowing them access to the country in order to launch attacks. The Saudis fear the possibility of increased violence on its border dragging it into a battle between the Houthis and the Yemen government.

•What are Yemen ‘s fears?

Primary is the possibility of a renewed conflict,akin to the 1962 coup which sparked an eight year civil war. The Houthis are both separatists — as they demand authority over the regions of Saada and Amran — and sectarian. The Houthis are Shiites,while the region is predominantly Sunni. They took up armed conflict in 2004; the Yemeni army was successful in squashing their assault then,yet the conflict has continued. A new offensive was launched in 2009. Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh has vowed that there will no dialogue between the leadership and the rebels. Ali Abdullah Saleh is no longer as powerful. 1978 saw him strike deals and alliances with powerful tribes and factions but dwindling oil revenues have brought the country to its knees,weakening alliances. Yemen is currently battling both the northern Houthi insurgency and southern separatists. Currently the state has control over the urban centres.

•What are the international ramifications?

Increasingly the Houthi rebellion has become a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The Houthis allege that the Yemeni government is being funded by Saudi aid whereas the Yemeni government maintains that the Houthis are being supplied by Iran. Yemen has been used in the past as an al-Qaeda base; the uncertain political atmosphere can foster al-Qaeda’s ambitions. There is also the fear of drug-trafficking and human trafficking.