Civil War in Yemen: The Power Struggle, Regional Influences and Relations With Turkey

Violence in Yemen resurged after the government’s decision to launch an extensive operation against the Houthi elements on August 11, 2009, and made the southeastern region of the Arabian Peninsula a new area of interest to the international community. Tension between the Zaidiyya (a Shiite sect) and Yemeni government forces has been ongoing since 2004, and again erupted into armed conflict in August 2009. This conflict is sure to increase the tensions between sectarian groups in the Middle East and trigger rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia.