đđ¨ COLOR REVOLUTION SERIES â PART 30
đžđĒ YEMEN
The Yemeni Revolution & Civil War: Ali Abdullah Saleh, the Arab Spring, Sanaa, the Houthis, Saudi Arabia, Iran, AQAP, the GCC Transition, Saleh's Fall, the Houthi Takeover, and the War That Became a Regional Proxy Conflict
By Greg Loucks
Introduction: The Revolution That Removed a President but Could Not Stabilize a Country
The Yemeni uprising began with many of the same demands heard across the Arab Spring:
Freedom
Dignity
Justice
An end to corruption
An end to authoritarian rule
For more than three decades, Yemen had been dominated by one man:
Ali Abdullah Saleh
Saleh had ruled North Yemen beginning in 1978.
After the unification of North and South Yemen in 1990, he became president of the unified country.
By the time the Arab Spring reached Yemen in 2011, Saleh had been at the center of Yemeni politics for:
more than 30 years.
His political survival had been extraordinary.
He navigated:
- Tribal rivalries
- Military factions
- Islamist movements
- Southern separatism
- Houthi rebellion
- Al-Qaeda
- Economic crises
- Foreign pressure
- Internal coups and attempted coups
His famous governing philosophy was essentially one of balancing competing forces against each other.
Saleh once compared governing Yemen to:
"dancing on the heads of snakes."
That phrase became an unusually accurate description of Yemeni politics.
But in 2011, the balance began to collapse.
Young Yemenis filled the streets.
They established protest camps.
They demanded Saleh leave.
The government attempted to suppress the movement.
A devastating attack nearly killed Saleh.
Eventually, regional diplomacy produced a transition plan.
Saleh agreed to leave the presidency.
His vice president:
Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi
became president.
At first, it appeared that Yemen had achieved what many Arab Spring protesters wanted:
the dictator was gone.
But the old political system had not disappeared.
The army remained divided.
Tribal networks remained powerful.
The Houthis were expanding.
Al-Qaeda remained active.
The economy was collapsing.
Southern separatism remained unresolved.
And the new government lacked legitimacy and capacity.
Then came one of the great ironies of the entire Arab Spring.
The man who had been overthrown:
Ali Abdullah Saleh
eventually allied with the movement that had helped destroy his government.
The former president joined forces with:
the Houthis.
Together they captured:
Sanaa
in 2014.
Hadi fled.
Saudi Arabia intervened militarily in 2015.
Iran became increasingly associated with Houthi support.
The United Arab Emirates became deeply involved.
Al-Qaeda and ISIS exploited the chaos.
Yemen became a regional battlefield.
And ordinary Yemenis paid the price.
The result was one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
Yemen therefore provides another critical lesson in this series:
Removing an authoritarian president does not necessarily remove the political networks that sustained him.
And sometimes:
the former dictator can return as a kingmaker even after losing power.
đžđĒ Chapter 1: Yemen
Yemen occupies the southwestern corner of the Arabian Peninsula.
It borders:
- Saudi Arabia
- Oman
and faces:
the Red Sea
and:
the Gulf of Aden.
đ Chapter 2: The Red Sea
Yemen's location is extraordinarily strategic.
The country's western coastline sits beside one of the world's most important maritime routes.
đĸ Chapter 3: Bab el-Mandeb
At the southern entrance to the Red Sea lies:
Bab el-Mandeb
the narrow maritime passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
đ Chapter 4: Why Yemen Matters
Ships traveling between:
the Indian Ocean
and
the Suez Canal
pass through this broader maritime corridor.
đ§ Chapter 5: Geography and Politics
Yemen's geography has therefore given the country strategic importance far beyond its economic size.
đī¸ Chapter 6: The Mountains
Much of northern and western Yemen is mountainous.
These mountains historically made central government control difficult.
đī¸ Chapter 7: The Interior
Large portions of Yemen are arid.
Water scarcity has long been a serious problem.
đ§âđ¤âđ§ Chapter 8: Tribal Society
Tribal affiliations remain extremely important in Yemeni society.
đ§ Chapter 9: The Central Government
The Yemeni state has historically struggled to exercise complete authority over the entire country.
đžđĒ Chapter 10: Two Yemens
Modern Yemen was not always one country.
There were:
North Yemen
and
South Yemen.
đī¸ Chapter 11: North Yemen
The northern region became the:
Yemen Arab Republic
after the overthrow of the imamate in 1962.
â Chapter 12: South Yemen
The south eventually became:
the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen
and developed a Marxist-oriented political system.
đ Chapter 13: The Cold War
South Yemen became closely aligned with the Soviet Union.
North Yemen maintained relationships with Western and Arab states.
âī¸ Chapter 14: Rival States
For decades, Yemen was divided between two governments with different political systems and international alliances.
đī¸ Chapter 15: Unification
On:
May 22, 1990
North and South Yemen unified.
đžđĒ Chapter 16: The Republic of Yemen
The unified country became:
the Republic of Yemen.
đ¤ Chapter 17: Ali Abdullah Saleh
The president of North Yemen:
Ali Abdullah Saleh
became president of unified Yemen.
đ§ Chapter 18: Saleh's Political System
Saleh did not rule Yemen like an absolute monarch.
His power depended upon managing a complicated network of:
- Tribal leaders
- Military commanders
- Political parties
- Business elites
- Religious figures
- Regional interests
đ Chapter 19: Dancing on Snakes
Saleh's famous description of governing Yemen as:
"dancing on the heads of snakes"
captured the basic reality.
He had to keep multiple competing factions from becoming strong enough to overthrow him.
đ§ Chapter 20: Political Balancing
Saleh survived by constantly adjusting alliances.
đĒ Chapter 21: Military Power
The military was divided among competing commanders and political networks.
đ§âđ¤âđ§ Chapter 22: Tribal Alliances
Tribal leaders possessed substantial political influence.
đī¸ Chapter 23: General People's Congress
Saleh's political organization was the:
General People's Congress
or:
GPC
đ§ Chapter 24: Elections
Yemen held elections.
But the political system remained heavily dominated by Saleh.
â ī¸ Chapter 25: Corruption
Critics accused Saleh's government of widespread corruption and patronage.
đ° Chapter 26: Poverty
Yemen was one of the poorest countries in the Arab world.
đ§ Chapter 27: Economic Problems
The country struggled with:
- Unemployment
- Poverty
- Infrastructure shortages
- Water scarcity
- Weak institutions
- Limited economic opportunities
đž Chapter 28: Agriculture
Agriculture remained important to many Yemenis.
But water shortages increasingly threatened agricultural production.
đ§ Chapter 29: Water
Yemen has long faced severe water scarcity.
đ§ Chapter 30: A Country Running Out of Water
The water crisis became one of Yemen's major long-term structural problems.
đŋ Chapter 31: Qat
One of Yemen's most distinctive cultural and economic practices involves:
qat
a plant whose leaves are chewed for their stimulant effects.
đ§ Chapter 32: Qat Economy
Qat cultivation consumes significant amounts of agricultural resources.
â ī¸ Chapter 33: Structural Problems
By 2011, Yemen was already deeply vulnerable before the revolution began.
đ Chapter 34: Zaydi Islam
Many people in northern Yemen belong to:
Zaydi Islam
a branch of Shia Islam.
đ§ Chapter 35: The Houthi Movement
The most important Zaydi political movement eventually became:
the Houthi movement.
đ¤ Chapter 36: Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi
The movement was named after:
Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi
đ§ Chapter 37: Houthi Origins
The movement emerged partly as a response to:
- Political marginalization
- Religious concerns
- Foreign influence
- Government policy
âī¸ Chapter 38: The First Houthi War
Beginning in 2004, the Houthis fought the Yemeni government.
đĒ Chapter 39: Six Wars
The conflict between the Houthis and Saleh's government developed through multiple rounds of fighting.
đ§ Chapter 40: Saleh's Irony
Saleh had fought the Houthis.
Years later:
he would ally with them.
đ§ Chapter 41: Southern Grievances
Southern Yemen also developed a powerful separatist movement.
đžđĒ Chapter 42: The Southern Question
Many southerners believed unification had produced:
political and economic domination by the north.
âī¸ Chapter 43: 1994 Civil War
Southern forces attempted to break away in 1994.
Saleh's government defeated the separatists.
đ§ Chapter 44: Unresolved Division
The defeat did not eliminate southern grievances.
đ´ Chapter 45: Southern Movement
A movement known as:
al-Hirak
or:
the Southern Movement
eventually demanded greater autonomy or independence.
đ§ Chapter 46: Three Major Pressures
By 2011, Yemen therefore faced at least three major internal conflicts:
The Houthis in the north
Southern separatists in the south
Al-Qaeda militants
And then came:
the Arab Spring.
đ Chapter 47: Tunisia
Tunisia's revolution began the wave.
đĒđŦ Chapter 48: Egypt
Egypt's revolution made it clear that even entrenched presidents could fall.
đ§ Chapter 49: Yemen Watches
Young Yemenis began organizing demonstrations.
đ Chapter 50: January 2011
Protests erupted in Sanaa.
â Chapter 51: Change Square
The center of the protest movement became:
Change Square
or:
Change Campus
near Sanaa University.
đī¸ Chapter 52: The Protest Camp
Demonstrators established a permanent protest encampment.
đ§âđ¤âđ§ Chapter 53: Youth Movement
Young activists were at the heart of the movement.
đ§ Chapter 54: The Demands
Their demands included:
- Saleh's resignation
- Political reform
- Democratic government
- Economic opportunity
- End to corruption
đŠ Chapter 55: Tawakkol Karman
One of the most internationally recognized activists was:
Tawakkol Karman
đī¸ Chapter 56: Nobel Peace Prize
Karman later became a co-recipient of the:
2011 Nobel Peace Prize
for her role in nonviolent activism.
đ§ Chapter 57: A New Symbol
Karman became an international symbol of the Arab Spring.
đ¤ Chapter 58: Saleh Refuses
Unlike Ben Ali, Saleh did not simply flee.
Unlike Mubarak, he initially refused to step down.
â ī¸ Chapter 59: The Government Responds
Security forces and pro-government supporters confronted protesters.
𩸠Chapter 60: Friday of Dignity
One of the darkest moments occurred on:
March 18, 2011
when gunmen killed dozens of protesters in Sanaa.
đĄ Chapter 61: The Crisis Deepens
The killings caused widespread outrage.
đĒ Chapter 62: Military Defections
Major military commanders began breaking with Saleh.
đ¤ Chapter 63: General Ali Mohsen
One of the most important defectors was:
Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar
đ§ Chapter 64: The Military Splits
Yemen's military was increasingly divided between:
forces loyal to Saleh
and
forces opposing him.
â ī¸ Chapter 65: The State Begins Fracturing
The revolution was now intersecting with Yemen's older political rivalries.
đ§ Chapter 66: Saleh's Problem
The president was losing control.
But he still had powerful allies.
đī¸ Chapter 67: Tribal Politics
Major tribal leaders increasingly turned against Saleh.
đ§ Chapter 68: The Ahmar Family
The:
al-Ahmar
family became a major political and tribal rival of Saleh.
âī¸ Chapter 69: Fighting in Sanaa
Clashes broke out between government forces and tribal fighters.
đī¸ Chapter 70: The Capital Becomes a Battlefield
Parts of Sanaa were transformed into armed conflict zones.
đ§ Chapter 71: The Revolution Becomes More Than a Revolution
Yemen's uprising was now mixing:
popular protest
with:
elite power struggle
and:
tribal conflict.
â ī¸ Chapter 72: The Presidential Compound Attack
On June 3, 2011, Saleh's presidential compound was attacked.
đĨ Chapter 73: Saleh Is Wounded
Saleh was seriously injured.
đ¸đĻ Chapter 74: Saudi Arabia
Saleh was flown to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment.
đ§ Chapter 75: The President Leaves
For a moment, it appeared that Saleh's presidency was finished.
â ī¸ Chapter 76: But Saleh Survives
He eventually returned to Yemen.
đ§ Chapter 77: The Gulf Cooperation Council
Regional governments feared that Yemen was descending into complete chaos.
The:
Gulf Cooperation Council
or:
GCC
proposed a political transition.
đ¤ Chapter 78: The GCC Initiative
The plan called for Saleh to transfer power in exchange for legal immunity.
đ§ Chapter 79: Saleh Hesitates
Saleh repeatedly delayed signing the agreement.
â ī¸ Chapter 80: International Pressure
Eventually, Saleh agreed.
đ Chapter 81: November 2011
Saleh signed the transition agreement.
đ§ Chapter 82: Saleh Leaves the Presidency
Saleh formally transferred presidential authority.
đ¤ Chapter 83: Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi
His vice president:
Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi
became president.
đ Chapter 84: A Revolution Succeeds?
On paper:
the dictator was gone.
đ§ Chapter 85: But Was the Regime Gone?
No.
Saleh's political network remained.
His relatives still held influential positions.
His supporters remained in the military.
His party remained important.
đ§ Chapter 86: The Saleh Network
This is crucial.
Saleh had not disappeared from Yemeni politics.
He had merely lost the presidency.
â ī¸ Chapter 87: The Transition Problem
Hadi inherited a country that was already deeply fractured.
đī¸ Chapter 88: National Dialogue
The new government attempted to create a political settlement through:
National Dialogue Conference
đ§ Chapter 89: The Goal
The conference attempted to address:
- Federalism
- Southern grievances
- Houthi demands
- Political reform
- Constitutional structure
â ī¸ Chapter 90: The Problem
Not everyone agreed with the proposed political settlement.
đ§ Chapter 91: The Houthis
The Houthis were becoming increasingly powerful.
âī¸ Chapter 92: Houthi Expansion
Houthi forces expanded southward from their northern strongholds.
đī¸ Chapter 93: Amran
The Houthis captured important territory around:
Amran
đ§ Chapter 94: Houthi Military Power
The movement was becoming far more than a local insurgency.
â ī¸ Chapter 95: Government Weakness
Hadi's government struggled to contain the Houthis.
đ§ Chapter 96: The Fuel Subsidy Crisis
In 2014, Hadi's government removed fuel subsidies.
Fuel prices increased.
đĄ Chapter 97: Public Anger
The Houthis exploited the public anger.
They organized protests.
đ§ Chapter 98: The Houthi Message
The movement presented itself as opposing:
- Corruption
- Economic hardship
- Foreign influence
- Government incompetence
â ī¸ Chapter 99: The March on Sanaa
Houthi forces moved toward the capital.
đī¸ Chapter 100: Sanaa
In September 2014:
Houthi forces entered Sanaa.
đ§ Chapter 101: The Government Collapses
Hadi's government was unable to prevent the takeover.
â ī¸ Chapter 102: The Revolution Reverses
The government that had emerged from the 2011 revolution was now losing control of the capital.
đ§ Chapter 103: The Great Irony
The revolution had removed Saleh.
Now the Houthis were overthrowing:
the government created by the revolution.
đ§ Chapter 104: Saleh Returns
And then came the most unexpected development.
Saleh's forces began cooperating with:
the Houthis.
â ī¸ Chapter 105: Former Enemies Become Allies
The man who had fought the Houthis for years now worked with them.
đ§ Chapter 106: Why?
Because Saleh wanted revenge against the political forces that had removed him.
đ Chapter 107: The Snake Returns
Saleh's political skills had not disappeared.
He now sought to use the Houthis to restore his influence.
đ§ Chapter 108: The Alliance
The alliance combined:
Houthi fighters
with:
Saleh loyalists
âī¸ Chapter 109: The Capital Falls
The alliance consolidated control over Sanaa.
đ¤ Chapter 110: Hadi Under Pressure
President Hadi was placed under increasing pressure.
đ Chapter 111: Hadi Flees
Hadi eventually escaped Sanaa.
He went to:
Aden
in southern Yemen.
đ§ Chapter 112: Aden
Hadi declared Aden the temporary seat of government.
âī¸ Chapter 113: Civil War
The Houthis advanced south.
The conflict became a full-scale civil war.
đ¸đĻ Chapter 114: Saudi Arabia Intervenes
Saudi Arabia viewed the Houthi takeover as a major security threat.
đ§ Chapter 115: The Saudi Perspective
From Riyadh's perspective, a heavily armed movement with close ties to Iran was taking control of its southern neighbor.
â ī¸ Chapter 116: Regional Security
Saudi Arabia feared:
- Iranian influence
- Missile threats
- Border instability
- Houthi expansion
âī¸ Chapter 117: March 2015
Saudi Arabia launched a military intervention.
đŠī¸ Chapter 118: Coalition Airstrikes
A Saudi-led coalition began conducting airstrikes against Houthi targets.
đ Chapter 119: Coalition Members
The coalition included several Arab states, although participation and intensity varied over time.
đĻđĒ Chapter 120: United Arab Emirates
The UAE became one of the most important military participants.
đ§ Chapter 121: The Gulf War
Yemen had now become a regional war.
đŽđˇ Chapter 122: Iran
Iran supported the Houthis politically and materially.
The precise extent of Iranian control over the movement has been debated, but Iranian assistance became increasingly important.
đ§ Chapter 123: Proxy War
Saudi Arabia and Iran were competing for regional influence.
Yemen became one of the most important arenas of that rivalry.
â ī¸ Chapter 124: But Yemen Was Not Simply Iran Versus Saudi Arabia
This distinction is important.
Yemen's conflict had deep domestic roots.
The Houthis were not simply foreign puppets.
Yemeni political, tribal, economic, and regional grievances existed independently of Iranian involvement.
đ§ Chapter 125: A Domestic War With a Regional Dimension
The conflict was therefore:
both
a Yemeni civil war
and
a regional power struggle.
đī¸ Chapter 126: The Battle for Aden
Aden became a major battlefield.
đ§ Chapter 127: Southern Resistance
Southern forces resisted the Houthi advance.
âī¸ Chapter 128: Houthi Expansion
The Houthis temporarily expanded across large parts of western Yemen.
đ§ Chapter 129: The Front Lines
Yemen became divided among:
- Houthis
- Government forces
- Southern forces
- Tribal militias
- Islamist militants
- Other armed groups
đ Chapter 130: Al-Qaeda in Yemen
Yemen had long been home to:
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
or:
AQAP
â ī¸ Chapter 131: AQAP
AQAP became one of the world's most dangerous al-Qaeda affiliates.
đ§ Chapter 132: The Power Vacuum
The civil war allowed AQAP to expand in some areas.
âĢ Chapter 133: ISIS
ISIS also established a presence in Yemen.
đ§ Chapter 134: Multiple Extremist Threats
Yemen therefore faced both:
AQAP
and
ISIS
while simultaneously fighting a civil war.
â ī¸ Chapter 135: The Humanitarian Crisis
The consequences for civilians were devastating.
đ Chapter 136: Food
Millions faced severe food insecurity.
đ§ Chapter 137: Water
Water infrastructure was damaged.
đĨ Chapter 138: Hospitals
Medical services were severely disrupted.
đ§ Chapter 139: Children
Children were among the most vulnerable victims.
đ§ Chapter 140: Cholera
The destruction of sanitation systems contributed to one of the world's largest modern cholera outbreaks.
â ī¸ Chapter 141: Blockades and Restrictions
Restrictions on imports and fighting around ports contributed to humanitarian difficulties.
đ§ Chapter 142: Humanitarian Catastrophe
The United Nations repeatedly described Yemen as one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
đī¸ Chapter 143: Destroyed Infrastructure
Years of fighting damaged:
- Roads
- Bridges
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Water systems
- Electricity networks
đ§ Chapter 144: The Economy
Yemen's economy collapsed.
đ° Chapter 145: Currency
The Yemeni currency suffered enormous pressure.
đ§ Chapter 146: Public Employees
Government salaries became unreliable.
â ī¸ Chapter 147: Poverty
Already severe poverty became dramatically worse.
đ§ Chapter 148: The Human Cost of Revolution
The original protesters had demanded:
better lives.
Instead, millions faced:
war and hunger.
đ§ Chapter 149: The Red Sea
Yemen's strategic location became increasingly important.
đĸ Chapter 150: Shipping
The Red Sea is one of the world's most important commercial maritime corridors.
đ§ Chapter 151: Houthi Missiles
The Houthis developed increasingly sophisticated missile and drone capabilities.
đ Chapter 152: Missile Warfare
Houthi forces launched missiles and drones against:
- Saudi Arabia
- UAE-linked targets
- Other regional targets
đ§ Chapter 153: Saudi Cities Under Attack
Missiles and drones reached deep into Saudi territory.
â ī¸ Chapter 154: Regional Escalation
The conflict was no longer confined to Yemen.
đŠī¸ Chapter 155: Saudi Air Campaign
Saudi Arabia responded with extensive airstrikes.
đ§ Chapter 156: The Cycle
The conflict developed into:
Houthi attack
â
Saudi response
â
Houthi retaliation
â
More airstrikes
â
More civilian suffering
đ§ Chapter 157: The Stockholm Agreement
International diplomacy eventually produced limited ceasefire arrangements.
đī¸ Chapter 158: 2018
The:
Stockholm Agreement
attempted to reduce fighting around important areas including Hodeidah.
đ§ Chapter 159: Hodeidah
The port of:
Hodeidah
was critical because Yemen depended heavily on imports.
â ī¸ Chapter 160: Humanitarian Importance
Control of Hodeidah could determine whether food and medical supplies reached millions of people.
đ§ Chapter 161: The War Changes
By 2021 and 2022, the conflict had begun to settle into a more complicated stalemate.
đī¸ Chapter 162: 2022 Truce
A UN-brokered truce significantly reduced large-scale fighting.
đ§ Chapter 163: The Front Lines Freeze
The truce expired later in 2022.
But the level of fighting remained much lower than during the peak years.
đ§ Chapter 164: The War Without Peace
Yemen entered a strange period:
less war
but
not peace.
đī¸ Chapter 165: Presidential Leadership Council
In 2022, Hadi transferred his powers to a:
Presidential Leadership Council
đ§ Chapter 166: The New Government Structure
The council included representatives from several competing political and military factions.
â ī¸ Chapter 167: Another Complicated Coalition
Yemen once again demonstrated the problem of trying to create political unity among armed factions.
đ§ Chapter 168: The Southern Question Returns
Southern forces continued to demand greater autonomy or independence.
đ´ Chapter 169: Southern Transitional Council
The:
Southern Transitional Council
or:
STC
became a major political and military force.
đ§ Chapter 170: UAE Support
The UAE developed close relationships with southern forces.
â ī¸ Chapter 171: The Anti-Houthi Camp Is Divided
This is critical.
The forces opposing the Houthis do not necessarily agree about Yemen's future.
đ§ Chapter 172: One Country, Multiple Visions
Some want:
one unified Yemen
Others want:
an independent South Yemen
Others want:
federalism
Still others prioritize:
their local or tribal interests.
đ§ Chapter 173: The Houthi Vision
The Houthis seek to maintain control over the territory they hold and play a dominant role in Yemen's political future.
â ī¸ Chapter 174: Political Settlement
Any lasting peace therefore requires more than:
Saudi Arabia and the Houthis
agreeing to stop fighting.
đ§ Chapter 175: The Real Negotiation
A lasting settlement would have to address:
- Houthis
- Southern forces
- Government factions
- Tribal leaders
- Local authorities
- Islamists
- Civil society
- Foreign governments
đ Chapter 176: Iran-Saudi Diplomacy
In 2023, Saudi Arabia and Iran announced an agreement to restore diplomatic relations.
đ§ Chapter 177: China's Role
China helped facilitate the diplomatic announcement.
đī¸ Chapter 178: Yemen Benefits
Improved Saudi-Iranian relations created new possibilities for reducing the Yemeni conflict.
â ī¸ Chapter 179: But the War Was Not Over
The underlying Yemeni political conflict remained unresolved.
đĸ Chapter 180: October 7, 2023
The Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent Gaza war changed the regional environment again.
đ§ Chapter 181: The Houthis Enter the Wider Conflict
The Houthis began launching missiles and drones toward Israel and against commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
đĸ Chapter 182: Red Sea Attacks
Commercial vessels were attacked or threatened.
đ Chapter 183: Global Shipping
Major shipping companies began rerouting vessels around Africa.
đ§ Chapter 184: Suez Canal Consequences
Because the Red Sea connects to the Suez Canal route, Houthi attacks had consequences for global trade.
đ° Chapter 185: Economic Impact
Longer shipping routes meant:
- Higher fuel costs
- Longer delivery times
- Increased insurance costs
- Supply-chain disruption
đēđ¸ Chapter 186: United States
The United States responded militarily against Houthi targets.
đŦđ§ Chapter 187: United Kingdom
Britain joined the United States in strikes against Houthi positions.
đ§ Chapter 188: Yemen Becomes Global Again
A war that began as a domestic revolution had now become connected to:
global maritime security.
đ Chapter 189: The Red Sea Becomes a Battlefield
Yemen's geography once again determined its strategic importance.
đ§ Chapter 190: The Great Yemeni Paradox
Yemen is one of the poorest countries in the region.
Yet it possesses enormous strategic leverage because of its location.
đ§ Chapter 191: The Saleh Paradox
Ali Abdullah Saleh's political career also contained an extraordinary paradox.
He spent years fighting the Houthis.
Then:
he allied with them.
â ī¸ Chapter 192: The Alliance Breaks
Eventually, Saleh and the Houthis turned against each other.
đ§ Chapter 193: Saleh Changes Sides Again
Saleh attempted to open communication with Saudi Arabia.
â ī¸ Chapter 194: The Houthis Respond
The alliance collapsed.
đĢ Chapter 195: December 2017
Houthi forces killed:
Ali Abdullah Saleh
đ§ Chapter 196: The End of Saleh
The man who had dominated Yemen for decades was dead.
đ Chapter 197: The Final Irony
Saleh had survived:
- Coups
- Wars
- Assassination attempts
- Revolution
- Resignation
But he ultimately died after attempting to reverse his alliance with the Houthis.
đ§ Chapter 198: The Revolution's Long Shadow
The 2011 revolution therefore did not simply remove Saleh.
It transformed the alliances surrounding him.
đ§ Chapter 199: The Saleh Legacy
Saleh's political network helped shape Yemen long after he left office.
đ§ Chapter 200: The Houthi Lesson
The Houthis demonstrate another recurring pattern in revolutions:
An opposition movement can become the new ruling force.
â ī¸ Chapter 201: The Houthi Transformation
The Houthis began as a religious and political movement in northern Yemen.
They became:
a major military power
and eventually:
the dominant authority across much of northwestern Yemen.
đ§ Chapter 202: The Arab Spring Paradox
The Arab Spring wanted:
more democratic government.
But Yemen eventually produced:
a new armed political authority.
đ§ Chapter 203: Revolution Versus Counterrevolution
Yemen's political process became a struggle between:
revolution
and
counterrevolution
and
armed state-building.
đ§ Chapter 204: The GCC Model
The Gulf Cooperation Council transition was different from Tunisia.
The old elite remained deeply involved.
đ§ Chapter 205: Controlled Transition
Instead of completely dismantling the old political system, the transition attempted to:
manage it.
â ī¸ Chapter 206: The Problem
The old system was already fractured.
Trying to preserve it without Saleh at the center did not necessarily produce stability.
đ§ Chapter 207: The Military Problem
Yemen never achieved a truly unified national military.
đ§ Chapter 208: The Tribal Problem
Tribal alliances remained powerful.
đ§ Chapter 209: The Regional Problem
The north-south division remained unresolved.
đ§ Chapter 210: The Houthi Problem
The Houthis remained outside the political system.
đ§ Chapter 211: The Extremist Problem
AQAP remained active.
đ§ Chapter 212: The Economic Problem
The economy was collapsing.
đ§ Chapter 213: The Humanitarian Problem
Millions were suffering.
đ§ Chapter 214: The Foreign Intervention Problem
Saudi Arabia and Iran were increasingly involved.
đ§ Chapter 215: Too Many Problems
Yemen's revolution therefore faced something even more difficult than dictatorship:
state fragmentation.
đ Chapter 216: Yemen Compared With Tunisia
Tunisia
Dictator falls.
State institutions survive.
Political transition occurs.
đĒđŦ Chapter 217: Yemen Compared With Egypt
Egypt
Dictator falls.
Military remains powerful.
Military eventually restores authoritarian rule.
đąđž Chapter 218: Yemen Compared With Libya
Libya
Dictator falls.
State institutions collapse.
Militias compete.
đ¸đž Chapter 219: Yemen Compared With Syria
Syria
Dictator remains.
Civil war develops.
Foreign powers intervene.
Eventually the regime falls.
đžđĒ Chapter 220: Yemen
Yemen
Dictator leaves.
Old political networks survive.
Government weakens.
Houthis expand.
Former dictator allies with rebels.
Capital falls.
Foreign intervention begins.
Civil war follows.
đ§ Chapter 221: Four Different Arab Spring Outcomes
The pattern is becoming clear:
Tunisia
Transition
Egypt
Military Restoration
Libya
State Collapse
Syria
Civil War and Regime Collapse
Yemen
Fragmentation and Protracted Conflict
đ§ Chapter 222: The Central Variable
Once again:
Institutions matter.
đ§ Chapter 223: Strong Institutions
If institutions survive:
political transition becomes possible.
â ī¸ Chapter 224: Weak Institutions
If institutions collapse:
armed factions fill the vacuum.
đ§ Chapter 225: Yemen's Institutional Weakness
Yemen had weak national institutions before the revolution.
The revolution exposed those weaknesses.
đ§ Chapter 226: The Revolution Did Not Create Every Problem
This distinction matters.
The revolution did not create:
- Tribal politics
- Houthi grievances
- Southern separatism
- Al-Qaeda
- Poverty
- Water shortages
These problems existed before 2011.
The revolution:
opened the political system at the exact moment those unresolved problems were becoming increasingly dangerous.
đ§ Chapter 227: The Pressure Cooker
Yemen was already a pressure cooker.
The Arab Spring removed the lid.
â ī¸ Chapter 228: The Explosion
The result was:
civil war.
đ§ Chapter 229: Was the Revolution a Failure?
Again, the answer depends on the definition.
If success means:
removing Saleh
then:
Yes.
If success means:
creating stable democracy
then:
No.
If success means:
exposing the weaknesses of the old political order
then:
Absolutely.
đ§ Chapter 230: The Deeper Lesson
Yemen demonstrates:
A peaceful political transition cannot succeed if the underlying power structure remains divided among armed factions.
đ§ Chapter 231: Another Lesson
It also demonstrates:
A dictator can lose the presidency without losing his political network.
đ§ Chapter 232: Another
And:
Former enemies can become allies when their interests temporarily converge.
đ§ Chapter 233: Another
And:
Foreign intervention can transform a domestic political crisis into a regional war.
đ§ Chapter 234: Another
And finally:
The people who suffer most from political collapse are often the people who had the least power to cause it.
Conclusion: From Change Square to the Red Sea
The Yemeni Revolution began with young people.
They gathered in Sanaa.
They created:
Change Square.
They demanded:
change.
They demanded:
dignity.
They demanded:
freedom.
They demanded that Ali Abdullah Saleh leave.
Eventually:
he did.
The revolution appeared to have achieved its central objective.
But Saleh's political network remained.
The military remained divided.
The Houthis remained armed.
Southern separatism remained unresolved.
Al-Qaeda remained active.
The economy continued to deteriorate.
And the new government was unable to establish strong national authority.
Then the Houthis marched on Sanaa.
The government collapsed.
Hadi fled.
And the former dictator:
Ali Abdullah Saleh
became the Houthis' temporary ally.
The man who had fought the Houthis for years now helped them seize the capital.
Saudi Arabia intervened.
Iran became increasingly associated with Houthi support.
The UAE intervened.
AQAP expanded.
ISIS appeared.
Cities were bombed.
Ports were blockaded.
Hospitals collapsed.
Millions went hungry.
And Yemen became one of the greatest humanitarian disasters of the twenty-first century.
Yet the story did not end there.
The Houthis survived.
Saudi Arabia and Iran eventually began talking.
The front lines quieted.
But no permanent political settlement was achieved.
Then the war in Gaza transformed the regional environment again.
The Houthis began attacking ships in the Red Sea.
And suddenly:
Yemen's civil war became a global shipping crisis.
A country that had struggled to feed itself was now capable of disrupting one of the world's most important maritime trade routes.
That is the extraordinary geopolitical paradox of Yemen.
The country may be economically weak.
But its location gives it enormous strategic leverage.
And Yemen provides another warning for the Color Revolution and Arab Spring story:
Removing a ruler is not the same as rebuilding a nation.
The protesters of 2011 wanted a better Yemen.
Instead, the country became divided among competing authorities and armed movements.
The revolution succeeded in removing one man.
But the state remained broken.
And when the state is weak enough:
someone else will eventually fill the vacuum.
In Yemen, that someone was:
the Houthis.
The next chapter takes us to another country where a longtime authoritarian ruler was challenged by mass demonstrations.
But this time, the revolution would not simply remove the president.
Instead, it would produce a fragile democratic transition that would later be overturned by:
the military.
The country:
đ¸đŠ SUDAN
The ruler:
Omar al-Bashir
The protest movement:
the Sudanese Revolution
And the central question:
What happens when a popular revolution succeeds in overthrowing a dictator, but the military refuses to surrender power?
đđ¨ NEXT â PART 31
đ¸đŠ SUDAN
The Sudanese Revolution: Omar al-Bashir, Bread Protests, the December Revolution, Women at the Center of the Uprising, the Fall of the Dictator, the Military Council, the Rapid Support Forces, the Civilian Transition, the 2019 Massacre, the 2021 Coup, and Sudan's Descent Into Civil War
The next chapter will examine:
- Sudan before independence
- British-Egyptian rule
- Independence
- North-south divisions
- The first Sudanese civil war
- Jaafar Nimeiri
- Omar al-Bashir
- The 1989 coup
- The National Islamic Front
- Hassan al-Turabi
- Islamist rule
- Darfur
- The Janjaweed
- The International Criminal Court
- South Sudan's independence
- Economic collapse
- Bread and fuel prices
- The December 2018 protests
- Sudanese women
- Alaa Salah
- The sit-in at the military headquarters
- Bashir's overthrow
- The Transitional Military Council
- General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan
- Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo "Hemedti"
- The Rapid Support Forces
- The 2019 massacre
- The civilian-military agreement
- Abdalla Hamdok
- The 2021 military coup
- The breakdown of the transition
- The 2023 war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and RSF
- Regional intervention
- Egypt
- UAE
- Saudi Arabia
- Russia
- Humanitarian catastrophe
- Displacement
- Famine
- And the central lesson:
Can a revolution truly succeed when the institutions that overthrow the dictator are the same institutions that refuse to give up power?
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