In January 2015, a Muslim Shia rebel group, the Houthis, seized control of
the Yemen government in a violent coup. They are backed by the Iranian government*, and
opposed by Saudi Arabia, both of which have a vested stake in Yemen’s outcome. So why
are Iran and Saudi Arabia fighting a proxy war in Yemen?
Well, one of the biggest struggles in the Muslim world is the difference between Sunni
Muslims and Shia Muslims. If you want more information, check out our video on the difference
between Sunnis and Shiites. Although Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iran, and the Houthis all belong
to specific Islamic sects, they can be more broadly categorized to explain the conflict.
Iran and the Houthis both identify with Shia Islam, while Saudi Arabia and the pre-coup
government of Yemen identify with Sunni Islam.
However, on a global level, pitting Saudi Arabia against Iran is more about who actually
controls the Middle East. In other countries like Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq, the battle
between Sunnis and Shiites is also split along Saudi-Iranian lines. Baghdad is reported to
currently be under Iranian influence. And the Houthi fighters have been said to be trained
and armed by Iran, although Iran has denied this.
Meanwhile, Yemen is backed by the Gulf Cooperation Council, which is made up of Saudi Arabia,
Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Oman, which is predominantly neither
Sunni nor Shia, refused to be part of the conflict. The US is also supporting the GCC,
as they have a vested interest in preventing Yemen from becoming an uncontrolled terrorist
hideout like Somalia. However, the US is only providing “logistical and intelligence support”,
no US troops or weapons are officially in play.
Iran’s interest in Yemen is largely considered to stem from a combination of Yemen’s weak
government, and it’s location in regards to Saudi Arabia. Yemen borders much of South
Saudi Arabia, and would be a valuable stronghold for Iran. Additionally, Yemen is home to Al-Qaeda
in the Arabian Peninsula, who are currently best known for attacking French newspaper,
Charlie Hebdo, and are considered the most dangerous radical group against Saudi Arabia.
As the war for control of the Middle East goes on, Saudi Arabia and Iran are playing
a complicated game. Considering that their rivalry has been going on for decades, we
may not see who comes out on top for a very long time.
To learn more about this conflict and where it stems from, check out our video on the
difference between Sunni & Shia Muslims here. Thanks for watching TestTube, please subscribe so you don’t miss our next
update on this conflict.