Understanding Yemen’s Prolonged War: From the 2014 Houthi Rise to Today’s Crisis

The war that has torn Yemen apart for more than a decade is rooted in a series of political ruptures, regional rivalries and shifting alliances. By laying out the main milestones, readers can see how a local power struggle evolved into one of the world’s worst humanitarian emergencies.

In September 2014, the Houthi movement – a Zaidi Shia group from the north – seized the capital, Sanaa, and forced President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi to flee. Al Jazeera reported that the rebels quickly dissolved the parliament and declared a new governing council, effectively toppling the internationally recognised government.

The following year, a Saudi‑led coalition launched a military campaign aimed at restoring Hadi’s administration. Airstrikes, ground incursions and a naval blockade intensified the fighting, according to Al Jazeera, which noted that the coalition’s involvement turned a domestic rebellion into a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the latter being accused of supplying the Houthis with weapons.

From 2017 onward, the conflict fragmented further. The Southern Transitional Council, backed by the United Arab Emirates, declared autonomy for southern Yemen, while intermittent UN‑mediated talks produced temporary ceasefires that rarely held. Al Jazeera highlighted that a 2020 peace deal in Riyadh created a power‑sharing arrangement, yet implementation stalled and skirmishes continued along the front lines.

In 2024 the war entered a new phase of escalation. The Houthis began launching long‑range missile and drone attacks against Saudi oil facilities, while coalition forces responded with intensified aerial bombardments of Houthi‑controlled areas. Al Jazeera’s latest coverage describes a surge in civilian casualties and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people during the first half of 2026.

The human cost of the conflict far exceeds the battlefield. The United Nations estimates that more than 24 million Yemenis – roughly three‑quarters of the population – now face acute food insecurity, and disease outbreaks have claimed thousands of lives. The protracted war has crippled the country’s infrastructure, leaving hospitals without supplies and schools shuttered. This context explains why the conflict draws sustained international attention despite frequent stalemates in peace negotiations.

Looking ahead, diplomatic efforts remain fragile. While regional powers occasionally signal a willingness to de‑escalate, the entrenched interests of both the Houthis and the coalition make a comprehensive settlement elusive. Observers warn that without a robust humanitarian corridor and a clear political roadmap, Yemen’s crisis could deepen, further destabilising the Red Sea corridor and the broader Middle East.