Yemen lumbers toward civil war with increasing Saudi and Iranian influence
- 9 years ago
The military intervention in Yemen by Saudi Arabia and its Sunni allies raises the risk of fighting by proxy, with strings being pulled by the Saudis on one hand, the other being the main regional Shiite power Iran.
US regional researcher Katherine Zimmerman underscored that the Saudi intervention was not a decision taken in haste.
“The reason why Yemen is so important is because historically it has not been a sectarian country, and the Iranian position which has grown in Yemen over the past couple of weeks and months is much stronger and therefore much more of a threat to the Sunni states in the region.”
In Yemen, the different groups of faithful have prayed side by side for centuries — not like in Iraq or Syria. Around 60% of Yemenis are Sunni, 40% Shiite.
There are subgroups, of Sunni Shafi’i, Maliki and Hanbali.
The Shias are mostly Zaidi but also Twelver, Ismaili and Houthi, who are a smaller minority.
The Houthis seized the capital Sanaa last September and extended
US regional researcher Katherine Zimmerman underscored that the Saudi intervention was not a decision taken in haste.
“The reason why Yemen is so important is because historically it has not been a sectarian country, and the Iranian position which has grown in Yemen over the past couple of weeks and months is much stronger and therefore much more of a threat to the Sunni states in the region.”
In Yemen, the different groups of faithful have prayed side by side for centuries — not like in Iraq or Syria. Around 60% of Yemenis are Sunni, 40% Shiite.
There are subgroups, of Sunni Shafi’i, Maliki and Hanbali.
The Shias are mostly Zaidi but also Twelver, Ismaili and Houthi, who are a smaller minority.
The Houthis seized the capital Sanaa last September and extended