Shia insurgency in Yemen The Shia insurgency in Yemen , also known as the Houthi rebellion , Sa ' dah War or Sa ' dah conflict is a civil war in Northern Yemen . It began in June 2004 when dissident cleric Hussein Badreddin al - Houthi , head of the Shia Zaidiyyah sect , launched an uprising against the Yemeni government . Most of the fighting has taken place in Sa ' dah Governorate in northwestern Yemen although some of the fighting spread to neighbouring governorates Hajjah , ' Amran , al - Jawf and the Saudi province of Jizan . The Yemeni government alleged that the Houthis were seeking to overthrow it and to implement Shī ‘ a religious law . The rebels counter that they are " defending their community against discrimination " and government aggression . The Yemeni government has accused Iran of directing and financing the insurgency . In August 2009 , the Yemeni army launched a fresh offensive against Shia rebels in the northern Sa ' ada province . Hundreds of thousands of people were displaced by the fighting . The conflict took on an international dimension on 4 November 2009 as clashes broke out between the northern rebels and Saudi security forces along the two countries ' common border and Saudis launched an anti - Houthi offensive . The rebels accuse Saudi Arabia of supporting the Yemeni government in attacks against them . The Saudi government denied this . Houthi leaders claim that United States involvement in the war started on 14 December when the US launched 28 air raids . General Ali Mohsen al - Ahmar commanded the Yemeni security forces during the conflict and led all the government offensives from 2004 until 2011 , when he resigned his post to defend protesters during the 2011 Yemeni uprising . Background . In 1962 , a revolution in North Yemen ended over 1 , 000 years of rule by Zaydi Imams , a branch of Shia Islam , who claimed descent from the Prophet of Islam , Muhammad . Sa ' dah , in the north , was their main stronghold and since their fall from power the region was largely ignored economically and remains underdeveloped . The Yemeni government has little authority in Saada . During Yemen ' s 1994 civil war , the Wahhabis , an Islamic group adhering to a strict version of Sunni Islam found in neighboring Saudi Arabia , helped the government in its fight against the secessionist south . Zaydis complain the government has subsequently allowed the Wahabis too strong a voice in Yemen . Saudi Arabia , for its part , worries that strife instigated by the Shia sect so close to Yemen ' s border with Saudi Arabia could stir up groups in Saudi itself . Although it has received little international coverage , the conflict essentially pits Yemen ' s Sunni - majority government against Shia fighters , a conflict that has added significance for many Arab countries worried about the rising influence of Shia - ruled Iran . The last five years of fighting against the armed Houthi group were sparked in 2004 by the government ' s attempt to arrest Hussein al - Houthi , a Zaydi religious leader of Shabab Al Mu ' mineen and a former parliamentarian on whose head the government had placed a $ 55 , 000 bounty . Timeline . Round 1 : June – September 2004 . From June to August 2004 , government troops battled supporters of al - Houthi in the north . Estimates of the dead range from 500 to 1 , 000 . On September 10 , Yemeni forces killed al - Houthi . Since then , the rebellion has been led by one of his brothers , Abdul - Malik al - Houthi . His father , Badr Eddin al - Houthi , took over the position as the group ' s spiritual leader . Round 2 : March – May 2005 . Between March and April 2005 , some 1 , 500 people were killed in a resurgence of fighting between government forces and supporters of the slain cleric . In May 2005 , the rebels rejected an offer of a presidential pardon by President Ali Abdullah Saleh after their conditions for surrender were refused by the government and minor clashes continued . On May 21 , the government released estimates of the impact of the rebellion , announcing that it was responsible for 552 deaths , 2 , 708 injures , and over USD 270 million in economic damages . On , 23 June 2005 , the rebels ' military commander Abdullah al - Ruzami surrendered to Yemeni authorities . after tribal mediators worked out a deal with the government . Round 3 : November 2005 – early 2006 . A third round of fighting broke out from November 2005 until early 2006 . During this round , the pro - government Hamdan tribe , led by Sheikh Abdullah al - Awjari battled with pro - Houthi tribes and Houthis tried to assassinate a Ministry of Justice official in Dhamar . The fighting was ended before the Presidential elections that year and in March 2006 , the Yemeni government freed more than 600 captured Shī ‘ a fighters . There was no data with regards to casualties in 2006 , but they were said to be significantly lower than those of the previous year . Round 4 : January – June 2007 . A new spate of fighting broke out on January 28 , 2007 , when militants attacked multiple government installations , killing six soldiers and injuring 20 more . Further attacks on January 31 , left six more soldiers dead and 10 wounded . A further ten soldiers died and 20 were wounded in an attack on an army roadblock near the Saudi Arabian border on February 1 . Though there was no official confirmation of militant casualties in the attacks , government sources claim three rebel fighters were killed in a security operation following the January 31 attacks . In February , the government launched a major offensive against the rebels involving 30 , 000 troops . By February 19 , almost 200 members of the security forces and over 100 rebels had died in the fighting . A further 160 rebels were killed in the subsequent two weeks . A French student was also killed . A ceasefire agreement was reached on June 16 , 2007 . The rebel leaders agreed to lay down arms and go into exile in Qatar ( by whom the agreement had been mediated ) , while the government agreed to release rebel prisoners , help pay for reconstruction and assist with IDP s returning home . In total some 1 , 500 people were killed by the conflict in 2007 , including 800 government troops , 600 rebels and 100 civilians . Round 5 : March – July 2008 . Armed incidents resumed in April 2008 , when seven Yemeni soldiers died in a rebel ambush on April 29 . On May 2 , 15 worshippers were killed and 55 wounded in a bombing at the Bin Salman Mosque in Sa ' dah as crowds of people left Friday prayer s . The government blamed the rebels for the bombing , but Houthi ' s group denied being responsible . Shortly after the attack , three soldiers and four rebels died in overnight skirmishes . On May 12 , clashes between Yemeni soldiers and rebels near the border with Saudi Arabia killed 13 soldiers and 26 rebels . During fighting in May 2008 , a total of 1 , 000 government forces were killed and 3 , 000 injured . Some 70 , 000 people were displaced by the fighting . President Saleh declared an end to fighting in the northern Sa ’ dah governorate on July 17 , 2008 . Round 6 : August 2009 – February 2010 . Yemeni troops , backed by tanks and fighter aircraft , launched a major offensive , code - named Operation Scorched Earth , against the rebel stronghold in northern Yemen on August 11 , 2009 , after the government promised to use an " iron fist " against the rebels . On September 17 , more than 80 people were killed in an air raid on a camp for displaced people in northern Yemen . The conflict took on an international dimension late in the month . Clashes were reported between the Houthis and Saudi security forces near the border . Also , Yemeni officials captured a boat in the Red Sea that was transporting anti - tank shells and , according to some reports , five Iranian " instructors " sent to help the Houthis . Various official Iranian sources responded , calling this claim a politically motivated fabrication , and stating that the ship was traveling for business activities carrying no consignment . In early November the rebels stated that Saudi Arabia was permitting Yemeni army units to launch attacks from across the border at a base in Jabal al - Dukhan , charges which were denied by the Yemeni government . In late October , heavy clashes in the area of Razih led to the Houthis capturing two military headquarters and killing Yemeni commander General Amr Ali Mousa Al - Uuzali In early November , General Ali Salem al - Ameri and regeonal security chief Ahmed Bawazeir were killed in a Houthi ambush as they were returning from Saudi Arabia . The conflict spilled into neighbouring Saudi Arabia for the first time since erupting in 2009 on November 4 when rebels shot dead a Saudi security officer in a cross - border attack . The rebels took control of a mountainous section inside Saudi Arabia , in the border region of Jabal al - Dukhan and occupied two villages inside Saudi territory . Saudi Arabia ’ s news agency said that rebels had entered Saudi territory and attacked patrols , and that a second soldier later died from wounds sustained in the same clash . On November 5 , Saudi Arabia responded by launching heavy air strikes on rebels in northern Yemen , and moved troops nearer the border . Saudi government officials said only that the air force had bombed Yemeni rebels who had seized a border area inside the kingdom , which they said had now been recaptured . The officials said at least 40 rebels had been killed in the fighting . The Saudi government adviser said no decision had yet been taken to send troops across the border , but made clear Riyadh was no longer prepared to tolerate the Yemeni rebels . The Saudi assault continued the following day , as Saudi residents near the southern border of Jizan Province were evacuated . At the same time , a Houthi spokesman reported to the media that they had captured Saudi troops . On 16 November , Yemen killed two Houthi commanders , Abbas Aaida and Abu Haider . On 19 November , Yemeni forces took control of al - Malaheez , killing the local commander Ali al - Qatwani . Houthi leaders claim that U . S . involvement started on 14 December when the U . S . launched 28 air raids . At least 120 people were killed and 44 injured by the alleged US air raids on the regions of Amran , Hajjah and Sa ' dah in North Yemen . New air raids on 18 December killed 63 civilians , including 28 children and injured at least 90 people . U . S . President Barack Obama claimed he had authorised the strikes against al - Qaeda . On 20 December , Saudi air strike killed some civilians . According to a spokesman for the Houthis , a Saudi attack killed 54 people in the town of Al Nadheer in the northern province of Sa ' dah . The group also claimed that Saudi forces were advancing on the nearby town of Zawa , also in Sa ' dah , and had fired more than 200 shells . On December 22 , the Houthis stated that they have managed to repulse Saudi Arabian forces trying to infiltrate into the province of Sa ' dah , killing an unspecified number of Saudi soldiers in a battle in the border region . The fighting between Yemeni and Saudi forces and Houthis killed at least 119 Yemeni government forces , 263 Houthis , 277 civilians and 7 foreign civilians . Saudi casualties were confirmed at 82 at the time . With more soldiers killed in subsequent clashes and missing soldiers being found dead , however , the casualties rose to 133 killed by January 23 , 2010 . The number of missing was put at six . In early January 2010 , the Houthis chose the Iranian cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al - Sistani to mediate in their political standoff with the Yemeni government and to find a solution to the conflict . This choice was criticized by Saudi cleric Mohammad al - Arifi , a preacher at Riyadh ’ s central mosque , who dismissed al - Sistani as “ an infidel and debauched . ” The remarks by the Saudi cleric were considered extremely insulting by Shi ’ as around the world , causing major outrage in some Shi ' a populated countries like Iraq , Iran and Lebanon . On January 13 , 2010 , Operation Blow to the Head was launched in an attempt by the government to capture the city of Sa ' adah . Security forces claimed they killed 34 and arrested at least 25 Houthis , as well as killing al - Qaeda in Yemen leader Abdullah al - Mehdar within the next two weeks of fighting . On January 25 , 2010 , the Houthis offered a truce and withdrew from 46 positions which they held in Saudi territory . Houthi leader Abdul Malek al - Houthi said they would stop fighting to prevent further civilian casualties and the withdrawal was a gesture for peace , but warned that if the Saudis were to continue fighting the Houthis would go over into open warfare . A Saudi general announced that the Houthis had stopped fighting and were not on Saudi land anymore and that in response the Saudis also stopped fighting saying , " The battle has ended by God ' s will . " But the Saudi king denied the Houthis had withdrawn saying they were forced out , and declared military victory for the end of their conflict with the Houthis . There have however been allegations that the Saudis launched new air raids on January 29 , thus breaking the truce . On January 1 the Yemeni government offered a conditional cease - fire . The cease - fire had five conditions which were the re - establishment of safe passage on roads , the surrender of mountain strongholds , a full withdrawal from all local authority property , the return of all military and public equipment seized during hostilities and the release of all the detained civilians and soldiers . On January 30 , Abdel - Malek al - Houthi released a video wherein he blamed the government for the recent round of fighting but said that : " Nevertheless , and for the fourth time , I announce our acceptance of the [ government ' s ] five conditions [ for an end to the conflict ] after the aggression stops . . . the ball is now in the other party ' s court . " After the truce was accepted on January 30 , however , there were still some clashes between the Houthis and both Saudi and Yemeni forces . Therefore , on January 31 the Yemeni government rejected the truce and launched a new round of attacks , killing 24 people . 2010 conflict with pro - government tribes . In April , Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam declared that they had captured the Manaba district in Sa ' dah and that government forces did not put up much resistance . Government troops declared they had killed 30 Houthis which tried to penetrate into Harf Sufyan District . On July 17 , 2010 , the Houthis warned on their website that the government was preparing for another offensive against the Houthis . They said the government had been digging trenches from the Sana ' a to Sa ' ada . They claimed the army was trying to amass servicemen in villages and that soldiers in Amshia Bsfian region were creating an army stronghold on Mount Guide . The report came as the Yemeni government blamed Houthi fighters for recent ethnic clashes which had killed 11 people , including two soldiers and for the kidnapping of two people in a market . The Houthis have denied these allegations and have claimed that it was the work of the government . On July 20 , 2010 , clashes broke out between Houthis and members of an army - backed tribe , led by Sheikh Sagheer Aziz in the region of Souffian . A Houthi commander declared that the clashes had broken out because of Yemeni Army attacks on Houthis and local pro - Houthi tribes . During the clashes 49 people were killed , including 20 tribal fighters and 10 Houthi fighters . The Houthis also managed to surround the Yemeni military bases in the region . Over the following days clashes continued between the Yemeni army and pro - government Bin Aziz tribes and the Houthis . The government claimed that in the following two days 20 fighters at each side had been killed . A Houthi spokesman denied these claims , stating only 3 Houthi fighters had been killed in the clashes . Both sides have blamed each other for starting the clashes . The UN expressed great concern about the situation in North Yemen . On July 23 , Houthi spokesman Vayf - Allah al - Shami said calm had returned to the region and that a government committee was trying to mediate a cease - fire between the Houthis and the Bin Aziz tribes in the Souffian region . On July 27 , Houthis captured a military post in al - Zaala in Harf Sufyan , capturing 200 soldiers . The soldiers were from the 72nd regiment of the army ' s republican guard . Tribal sources claimed they had inflicted 200 fatalities on the Houthis in al - Amsheya while suffering only 30 dead themselves . Houthi spokesman Abdul Salam denied the high number of killed and said the claims were highly exaggerated . Houthis said they recovered the bodies of 17 of their fighters , including that of rebel commander Abu Haidar , near the house of Sheikh Saghir Aziz in Al - Maqam , near Al - Zaala . On July 29 , the Houthis released the 200 soldiers they had captured as a good gesture . In total some 70 people had died since the clashes started . On November 22 , one soldier was killed and two were wounded by a roadside bombing . The next day 23 Houthi fighters and supporters were killed and 30 were injured by a car bomb targeting a Shi ' a , religious procession in al - Jawf province . On November 26 , two Shi ' a mourners were killed and eight were injured by a bomb while on their way to Sa ' adah city to attend Badreddin al - Houthi ' s funeral . In total , between 195 and 281 people were killed during this round violence , majority of the casualties on the Houthi side . 2011 Yemeni revolution . A major demonstration of over 16 , 000 protestors took place in Sana ' a on 27 January . On 2 February , President Saleh announced he would not run for reelection in 2013 and that he would not pass power to his son . On 3 February , 20 , 000 people protested against the government in Sana ' a , others protested in Aden , in a " Day of Rage " called for by Tawakel Karman , while soldiers , armed members of the General People ' s Congress and many protestors held a pro - government rally in Sana ' a . On February 27 , Abdul Malik al - Houthi announced that the Houthis support the pro - democracy protests and their right to regime change , as happened in Tunisia and Egypt . Following these statements , large crowds of Houthis joined in with the protests all over Northern Yemen . Houthis entered the city of Sa ' ada on March 19 and after fighting a drawn out battle with pro - government Sheikh Uthman Mujalli , they managed to seize control of the town on March 24 , after destroying Sheikh Mujalli ' s house and forcing the local governor to flee the city . Houthis then installed new military checkpoints at the entrances and exits of the city , after police deserted their posts and were relocated to army camps elsewhere . On March 26 , Houthi rebels declared the creation of their own administration in Saada Governorate , independent from Yemeni authorities . A former arms dealer was appointed governor by the Houthis as the previous Sa ' dah governor was forced to flee to Sanaa . On July 8 , 23 people were killed in fighting between the Houthis and the opposition Islah party in al - Jawf governorate . The fighting erupted after the governor of al - Jawf fled and opposition tribes took control of the governorate and the Houthis refused to hand over a Yemeni military base which they had seized several months earlier . Fighting continued until July 11 , during that day over 30 people were killed in the violence in al - Jawf . The Houthis say that some elements of the pro - Islah militias were linked to al - Qaeda . On July 28 , over 120 people were killed as the Houthis launched an offensive to take over government buildings in al - Jawf . The war in Jawf lasted for four months , in which Sunni tribes claimed to have killed 470 Houthis , acknowledging 85 casualties at their side , and it eventually led to the Houthis taking control of al - Jawf governorate . In August a suspected al - Qaeda car - bombing killed 14 Houthis in al - Jawf On November 9 , after several days of heavy fighting the Houthis managed to break through defense lines of the pro - government Kashir and Aahm tribes in Hajjah Governorate , seizing control of the Kuhlan Ash Sharaf District and advancing towards the port of Midi , which would grant them access to the sea . Through Hajjah , the Houthis would be enabled to launch an assault on Yemeni capital Sana ' a . By taking Kuhlan Ash Sharaf , the Houthis managed to gain control over a highway linking San ' a to the sea . On November 15 , clashes between Houthis and Islah party militia restarted in al - Jawf , after an Islah party member tried to blow himself up during the al - Ghadeer festival , in Al Maton District but was captured and killed by the Houthis . A total of 10 people died in the ensuing fighting . On December 19 , Houthis stormed a Sunni Islamist school in the Shaharah District of ' Amran governorate , injuring one teacher and expelling all teachers and students from the school . Houthis then took up positions inside the school . On March 9 , A high - ranking military commander was killed on Thursday evening along with six of his bodyguards by Houthi gunmen in the northern Yemeni province of Amran On 23 November , Saleh signed a power - transfer agreement brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh , under which he would transfer his power to his Vice - President within 30 days and leave his post as president by February 2012 , in exchange for immunity from prosecution . Although the GCC deal was accepted by the JMP , it was rejected by many of the protesters and the Houthis . A presidential election was held in Yemen on 21 February 2012 . With a report claims that it has 65 percent of its turnout , Hadi won 99 . 8 % of the vote . Abd Rabbuh Mansur al - Hadi was taken the oath of office in Yemen ' s parliament on 25 February 2012 . Saleh returned home at the same day to attend Hadi ' s presidency inauguration . After months of protests , Saleh had resigned from the presidency and formally transfer power to his successor , marking the end of his 33 - year rule . Throughout the year , some 200 people were killed in clashes between Houthis and Salafi militias in Sa ' dah province . Post – Saleh ( 2012 – ) . On February 26 , heavy fighting occurred in Hajjah governorate as Houthis fought Sunni tribesmen loyal to the Al - Islah party . At least seven fighters from the Hojjor tribe were killed and nine others injured , while in the Ahem area nine bodies were found , belonging to Houthi fighters . Houthis launched an assault backed by artillery on al - Jarabi area , al - Hazan village , al - Moshaba mountain , and Ahem police station to take control of the al - Moshaba mountain . Parts of the Kushar District were put under siege since clashes erupted in that province between Houthis and the al - Zakari tribe in November . In early February over 55 people had been killed during sectarian violence in Kushar . During February and March some 27 people were killed and 36 injured due to mines in Hajjah . A total of 600 were killed in clashes in Hajjah between November 2011 and April 2012 , mainly in Kushar and Mustaba District s . On March 9 , a high ranking Yemeni military commander and six of his bodyguards were killed by a Houthi ambush in Northern ' Amran . The bodyguards returned fire , killing at least three Houthis . On March 23 , a suicide bomber targeted a Houthi march in Sa ' dah , no casualties were reported . On March 25 , some 14 people were killed and three injured in a car bombing in al - Hazm of al - Jawf province , targeting a Shi ' a gathering near a school . Another 8 Houthis were killed in an attack by Salafis on April 21 . From June 2 to June 4 , Houthis clashed with Salafi militias in Kataf districtm leaving several dead . Houthis claim to have taken over three Salafi positions and confiscated Saudi weapons during the clash . On August 21 , clashes broke out between Houthis and tribes in Ash Shahil District of Hajjah after Houthis allegedly shot two women in the district . As the fighting broke out , Houthis retreated from al - Amroor area and retreated to the mountains between Janeb al - Sham and Janeb al - Yemen . Houthis were said to control several mountains in the region including mount Azzan and the governorate center that overlooks al - Mahabishah , Qafl Shamer and Ku ' aydinah District s . A truce was signed between the two sides on August 30 . Clashes reignited on September 6 and Houthis managed to seize control of five schools , a medical center and a police station . Some 30 people were killed in the battles . Afterwards Houthis complaied of civilian areas being shelled by al - Islah , while MP Ali al - Ma ' amari accused Houthis of killing a worker from Taiz . In September and October , Houthis led may protests in Sana ' a as part of the 2012 Anti - US protests caused by the release of Innocence of Muslims . Houthi slogans were hung all across the old city of Sana ' a and Shi ' a majority areas during the protests . This has led to Houthis expanding their control in Sana ' a Governorate and other areas around the capital , particularly Khwlan and Sanhan District s and the town Shibam Kawkaban in al - Mahwit . Al - Juraf district was also named as a Houthi stronghold , where they had large numbers of weapons stationed . Sunni sources have alleged that Houthis have used the protests to smuggle weapons and fighters from areas surrounding Sana ' a into Sana ' a city itself , mainly in the old city . During one of the protests , in Raydah , Amran , clashes broke out between Houthis and Islahi gunmen after the Islahi gunmen interrupted a Houthi mass rally , denouncing Innocence of Muslims and the US government , on September 21 . Two people were killed during the clash and three Islahi gunmen were captured . Fighting continued until September 23 , leaving 16 fighters dead and 36 Islah men captured by the Houthis . After a cease - fire was agreed on , Houthis withdrew from the town and released the prisoners they had taken . A group of Houthis remained in Owaidan mosque . Alleged foreign involvement . Iran and Hezbollah . There have been a number of alleged Iranian involvements in the Sa ' dah insurgency to aid the Houthis , including : United States . On December 2009 , According to The New York Times , the United States has provided weapons and logistical support to Yemeni government strikes against suspected hide - outs of so - called Al Qaeda within its borders . The officials said that the American support was approved by President Obama and came at the request of the Yemeni government . Houthis claimed in a statement that the U . S . has used modern fighter jets and bombers in its offensive against the Yemen fighters . Houthi leaders however claim that US involvement started on 14 December when the US launched 28 air raids . At least 120 people were killed and 44 injured by the alleged US air raids on the regions of Amran , Hajjah and Sa ' ada in North Yemen , a Houthi leader was quoted as saying : " " The US air force perpetrated an appalling massacre against citizens in the north of Yemen as it launched air raids on various populated areas , markets , refugee camps and villages along with Saudi warplanes , The savage crime committed by the US air force shows the real face of the United States . It cancels out much touted American claims of human rights protection , promotion of freedoms of citizens as well as democracy . " " The Houthi claimed that new air raids on 18 December killed 63 civilians , including 28 children and injured at least 90 people . On June 17 , 2011 , following Friday prayers , tens of thousands of protestors rallied in Sa ' dah against US interference in Yemen . The houthis blamed US intelligence forces of carrying out a bombing in August 2011 which killed 14 Houthi fighters . Humanitarian effects . In April 2008 , the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimated that the conflict had created 77 , 000 internally displaced persons ( IDPs ) in Sa ' dah Governorate . By order of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia , the Saudis are to shelter and build 10 , 000 new homes for the war - displaced people . Use of child soldiers . UNICEF and Islamic Relief Worldwide were reported as condemning Al - Houthi rebels for abusing children by forcing them to fight for their cause . In November 2009 , over 400 children walked to the UNDP office in Sana ' a , to protest against Houthi abuse of children ' s rights . The Yemeni military has also been accused of employing children under 18 in its ranks .