Saudi-led intervention in the Yemeni civil war

The **Saudi-led intervention in Yemen** is a military operation that began on March 26, 2015, involving a coalition of countries led by Saudi Arabia. The intervention was launched in response to the ousting of Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi by Houthi forces, who took control of Sanaa, Yemen's capital, in 2014. The conflict is part of the larger Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict and involves multiple Middle Eastern and North African countries.

## Background

In 2014, the Houthis, a Zaidi Shia militant group backed by Iran, began protests against the Yemeni government, eventually seizing control of Sanaa and declaring a new administration. The Houthi takeover led to clashes with forces loyal to President Hadi, who fled to Saudi Arabia. This event set the stage for the Saudi-led coalition's intervention.

## Objectives and operations

The coalition began its intervention under the codename **Operation Decisive Storm** (Arabic: عملية عاصفة الحزم) with initial airstrikes and a full blockade aimed at weakening the Houthis. After claiming to have achieved initial objectives, the coalition announced a shift to **Operation Restoring Hope** on April 22, 2015. This operation includes a combination of military action and diplomatic efforts to restore stability in Yemen.

## Involvement of other nations

Alongside Saudi Arabia, coalition forces include Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates, with each providing air or ground support. Other countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, and France, have provided logistical support, intelligence, and arms.

## Humanitarian impact and criticism

The intervention has been widely criticized for its humanitarian impact, with thousands of civilians killed and infrastructure severely damaged. The Yemen Data Project reports over 8,000 civilian deaths due to coalition airstrikes. The United Nations estimates that the conflict has contributed to over 377,000 deaths, including indirect causes such as famine and lack of healthcare.

## Recent developments

In 2022, Saudi Arabia declared a unilateral ceasefire to facilitate peace negotiations. In April 2023, most restrictions on commercial goods were lifted following Oman-mediated talks between Houthi and Saudi officials. Although open hostilities have largely decreased, ongoing peace talks have been complicated by recent Houthi attacks on shipping routes in the Red Sea.

## Related pages

- Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict
- Yemeni Civil War (2014–present)
- Houthis
- Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi

## Other websites

- United Nations
- Yemen Data Project

## Infobox (military conflict)

- **conflict**: Saudi-led intervention in Yemen
- **partof**: Yemeni Civil War (2014–present) and the Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict
- **image size**: 300px
- **caption**: An airstrike in Sanaʽa on 11 May 2015
- **date**: 26 March 2015 – present
- **place**: Yemen
- **status**: Ongoing
- **combatants header**: Belligerents
- **combatant2**: Houthis
- **combatant3**: Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
- **commander1**: Salman of Saudi Arabia
- **commander2**: Abdul-Malik al-Houthi
- **commander3**: Khalid Batarfi
- **strength1**: 100,000 soldiers (Saudi Arabia)
- **strength2**: 200,000–250,000 fighters
- **casualties1**: 1,000–3,000 soldiers killed (Saudi Arabia)
- **casualties2**: 12,907 Yemeni civilians killed (estimated by Yemen Data Project)
- **casualties3**: 377,000+ people killed (UN estimate as of 2021)