Allies:

  1. Saudi Arabia:
  • Yemen has historically enjoyed close ties with Saudi Arabia, its neighbor to the north, based on shared cultural, religious, and economic interests.
  • Saudi Arabia has provided financial assistance, humanitarian aid, and military support to Yemen, particularly in its efforts to counter the Houthi rebels and restore stability to the country.
  • The alliance between Yemen and Saudi Arabia is reinforced by their shared concerns about Iranian influence, regional stability, and security threats from terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS.
  1. United Arab Emirates (UAE):
  • Yemen has also developed a strategic partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has been a key member of the Saudi-led coalition supporting the Yemeni government against the Houthi insurgency.
  • The UAE has provided military assistance, training, and logistical support to Yemeni forces, as well as humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts in liberated areas.
  • The alliance between Yemen and the UAE is driven by their shared interests in countering the Houthi rebels, stabilizing Yemen, and promoting security in the broader Arabian Peninsula.

Enemies:

  1. Houthi Rebels:
  • Yemen’s primary adversaries are the Houthi rebels, also known as Ansar Allah, who seized control of the capital, Sana’a, in 2014 and subsequently expanded their control over large parts of the country.
  • The Houthi rebels are backed by Iran and have been engaged in a protracted conflict with the Yemeni government and its allies, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
  • The ongoing war with the Houthi rebels has resulted in widespread destruction, humanitarian suffering, and a complex humanitarian crisis in Yemen, with millions of people displaced, injured, or in need of humanitarian assistance.
  1. Iran:
  • Yemen’s conflict with the Houthi rebels is closely linked to regional power dynamics, particularly Iran’s support for the Houthis as part of its broader geopolitical strategy in the Middle East.
  • Iran has provided financial, military, and logistical support to the Houthi rebels, including weapons, training, and technical assistance, to help them confront the Saudi-led coalition and expand their control over Yemen.
  • Yemen’s government and its allies view Iran’s involvement in Yemen as destabilizing and a threat to regional security, exacerbating tensions and prolonging the conflict.
  1. Al-Qaeda and ISIS-affiliated Groups:
  • Yemen faces security threats from terrorist groups like al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and ISIS-affiliated militants, who have exploited the country’s instability and political chaos to establish a presence and launch attacks.
  • These extremist groups have targeted Yemeni security forces, government officials, civilians, and foreign interests, contributing to insecurity and instability in the country.
  • Yemen’s government, with support from its allies, including the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, has conducted counterterrorism operations against these groups, aiming to degrade their capabilities and prevent further attacks.