Yemen's War: The Shifting Alliances and Rivalries Explained (2024 Update)

Yemen's civil war (2014–present) is a multi-layered proxy conflict with local, regional, and global actors. Alliances are fluid, fragmented, and often transactional. This reflects the situation as of early 2024—subject to change.

Primary Warring Blocs

1. Houthi Movement (Ansar Allah) + Allies

Control: Northwest Yemen (Sana'a, Sa'dah, Hudaydah, Hajjah, Amran, Dhamar, Al Bayda – ~70% population).

• Iran: Primary state backer. IRGC-Quds Force provides missiles (Burkan, Quds), drones (Samad, Wa'id), anti-ship missiles (Khalij Fars), training, intelligence, funding. Smuggled via Oman, dhows.
• Hezbollah (Lebanon): Advisors, training (especially drones, missiles), media coordination.
• Former President Ali Abdullah Saleh (d. 2017): His GPC party allied 2014–2017; killed by Houthis after switching sides.
• Local Tribes: Zaydi tribes (Hashid, Bakil) – ideological/kinship alignment.

2. Internationally Recognized Government (IRG) / Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) + Saudi-led Coalition

Control: South/east (Aden, Marib, Hadramawt, Shabwah, Abyan, Lahij, Al Mahrah, Socotra).

• Saudi Arabia: Coalition leader; air power, border security, funding, political mediation.
• UAE: Key military partner; trained/equipped Giants Brigades, Security Belt, Shabwani/Hashrami Elite; controls ports (Aden, Mukalla), Socotra; supports Southern Transitional Council (STC).
• Other Coalition Members: Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Morocco (air), Sudan (RSF/Rapid Support Forces – now fighting in Sudan), Egypt (naval/air).
• United States: Intelligence, logistics, arms sales, diplomatic cover; no combat troops. Supports UN peace process.
• UK, France: Arms, intel, diplomatic support.

3. Southern Transitional Council (STC) – Separatists

• Goal: Restore South Yemen (pre-1990).
• Backed by UAE. Tensions with IRG (Riyadh Agreement 2019 unimplemented).
• Forces: Security Belt, Shabwani Elite.

4. Local/Regional Actors

• Marib Tribes: Pro-IRG but autonomous; defend oil/gas fields.
• Tihama Resistance: Pro-coalition, Red Sea coast.
• Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP): Exploits vacuums; targeted by US drones, UAE forces.
• ISIS-Yemen: Small, central/southern.

Current Dynamics (2023–2024)

• Ceasefire (Apr 2022–Oct 2022) lapsed; de facto truce largely holds (no major offensives).
• Saudi-Houthi Direct Talks (Oman-mediated): Progress on prisoner swaps, Sana'a airport reopening, Hudaydah port access, salary payments.
• Red Sea Escalation (Nov 2023–): Houthi attacks on shipping (Israel-linked); US/UK strikes on Houthi sites; complicates peace talks.
• Economic War: Dual central banks, currency split, fuel import restrictions, customs war.

Not "Allies/Enemies" But Overlapping Interests

No fixed blocs. Iran wants leverage. Saudi/UAE want security, influence, exit. US wants Red Sea security, counterterrorism. Yemenis want sovereignty, services, peace. The map changes monthly.

For real-time tracking: Yemen Data Project, ACLED, UN Panel of Experts reports, Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies.