Yemen is in turmoil as rebel forces tear the country apart.
Photo By: Whitten Bumbalough, Photomanager

By: Katelyn Liston, Reporter

After the fall of Yemen’s government in late January, a new group of protesters called the Houthis was formed. Originally a peaceful group, the Houthis morphed into violent rebels and has been the reason for hundreds of casualties within the nation. The group is also known as Ansar Allah, which translates to “supporters of God.”

Many would assume the dispute is solely within Yemen, but it is primarily involving the nation’s ally, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, which has supplied the Houthi rebels with military weaponry. Saudi Arabia has assisted Yemen fully and has pushed Houthi rebels to the country’s border. This reduction of the rebels was all after Saudi Arabia launched multiple airstrikes on the them, causing huge sums of damage within Yemen itself, and leaving thousands injured. Even after Saudi Arabia claimed to have ended their airstrikes, they launched another attack.

Sophomore Melissa Hyder says, “Obviously if [a group becomes] extremists, it doesn’t matter if they started with good intentions. You can’t just go around killing people.”

Iran has not definitively confirmed it’s support of the Houthis yet, but is assumed to be the one supplying them with military strength. Recently, Iran sent ships towards the Yemen coast, but turned back suddenly. U.S. Navy ships have been monitoring the coast of Iran as well to make sure the country does not receive any nuclear technology.

Sophomore Kejan Yoon says, “It’s very sad; I think Saudi Arabia is overbearing on Yemen.”

This conflict has caused unprecedented unrest in Yemen so shortly after the complete collapse of the country’s government. Yemen’s people, who formerly hosted refugees from Somalia, Syria, and Ethiopia, are now fleeing to neighboring countries for refuge from Houthi warfare. Boats of displaced peoples have been escaping the Middle East into upper Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been assisting Yemen during this time since they’re experiencing shortages in both medical supplies and personnel, and have had to sneak supplies in, since roads are occupied by rebels.

“Right now Yemen’s misled, clearly. They’re at a weaker state and being taken advantage of by Saudi Arabia and the United States who are both trying to protect their own interest and prevent nuclear warefare. The only organizations that are really helping are the [United Nations] and [World Health Organization]. [Yemen is] really just a mess and being taken advantage of at this point,” says Junior Diego Trujillo.

On April 22 the death toll in Yemen was raised to 944 and number injured is 3,487 by the WHO. A conference regarding the situation in Yemen was held from May 16 through May 19 and resulted in renewed support for the exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi as well as a resolution from the United Nation which would result in the Houthis withdrawing from the areas they have taken over.