Yemen: A Civil War Centuries in the Making

By

Asher Orkaby

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Activists in London’s Trafalgar Square in 2018.

Embargo Arms to Saudi Arabia

Activists in London’s Trafalgar Square in 2018 protesting the Saudi bombing campaign in Yemen and the UK’s business ties to Saudi Arabia.

Yemenis in Sana’a passing damage from airstrikes in 2018.

Bombing Damage

Yemenis in Sana’a passing damage from airstrikes in 2018.

Yemenis in Sana’a searching rubble from airstrikes in 2018.

Airstrike Damage

Yemenis in Sana’a searching rubble from airstrikes in 2018.

Yemenis protesting Saudi bombing campaigns in 2016.

Protesting Bombing

Yemenis protesting Saudi bombing campaigns in 2016.

Protestors in London condemning U.S. and UK weapon sales to Saudi Arabia in 2018.

The Butcher of Yemen

Protestors in London condemning U.S. and UK weapon sales to Saudi Arabia in 2018.

Sana’a, Yemen in 2013.

Sana’a, Yemen

Sana’a, Yemen in 2013.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2019.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Riyadh , Saudi Arabia in 2019.

Villagers in Hajar Aukaish, Yemen searching rubble after a bombing in 2015.

Hajar Aukaish Bombing

Villagers in Hajar Aukaish, Yemen searching rubble after a bombing in 2015.

Aerial bombing of Sana’a, Yemen in 2016.

Sana’a Bombing

Aerial bombing of Sana’a, Yemen in 2016.

President Abd Rabu Mansur Hadi in 2013.

Abd Rabu Mansur Hadi

President Abd Rabu Mansur Hadi in 2013.

President Abdullah Al-Salal celebrating the founding of the Republic of Yemen in 1962.

President Abdullah Al-Salal

President Abdullah Al-Salal celebrating the founding of the Republic of Yemen in 1962.

Yemeni protesters in August 2011.

2011 Protests

Yemeni protesters in August 2011.

Tens of thousands of protesters marching to Sana’a University in March 2011.

Sana’a University Protest

Tens of thousands of protesters marching to Sana’a University in March 2011.

Protesters calling for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to resign in February 2011.

February Protests

Protesters calling for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to resign in February 2011.

A drawing of Imam Yahya as he refused to be photographed.

Imam Yahya

A drawing of Imam Yahya as he refused to be photographed.

Imam Ahmad in 1946.

Imam Ahmad

Imam Ahmad in 1946.

Imam Muhammad al-Badr in the mid-1960s.

Imam Muhammad al-Badr

Imam Muhammad al-Badr in the mid-1960s.

Abdullah Sallal in the center with the heads of the coup in 1962.

Revolutionary Leaders

Abdullah Sallal in the center with the heads of the coup in 1962.

Abdullah Sallal at a military parade in 1963.

Abdullah Sallal

Abdullah Sallal at a military parade in 1963.

The Yemeni Prime Minister, Prince Hassan, meeting with tribesmen in Wadi Amlah, Yemen in 1962.

Prince Hassan and Tribesmen

The Yemeni Prime Minister, Prince Hassan, meeting with tribesmen in Wadi Amlah, Yemen in 1962.

An image of Hussein al-Houthi at a protest over Saudi-led airstrikes in 2015.

Hussein al-Houthi

An image of Hussein al-Houthi at a protest over Saudi-led airstrikes in 2015.

Vice President of Yemen and Deputy Supreme Commander of Yemeni Armed Forces Ali Muhsin al-Ahmar (left) with President Ali Abdullah Saleh (right) in 2011.

Vice President Ali Muhsin al-Ahmar and President Ali Abdullah Saleh

Vice President of Yemen and Deputy Supreme Commander of Yemeni Armed Forces Ali Muhsin al-Ahmar (left) with President Ali Abdullah Saleh (right) in 2011.

A young Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Ali Abdullah Saleh

A young Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Ali Abdullah Saleh (center) at a unification ceremony for North and South Yemen in 1990.

Unification Ceremony

Ali Abdullah Saleh (center) at a unification ceremony for North and South Yemen in 1990.

Ahmed Muhtar Pasha, the Ottoman Grand Vizier of Yemen, in 1912.

Ahmed Muhtar Pasha

Ahmed Muhtar Pasha, the Ottoman Grand Vizier of Yemen, in 1912.

Queen Elizabeth in Aden, Yemen knighting Sayyid Abubakr in 1954.

Queen Elizabeth in Yemen

Queen Elizabeth in Aden, Yemen knighting Sayyid Abubakr in 1954.

The flag of the Islah Party.

Islah Party Flag

The flag of the Islah Party.

The flag of South Yemen used today by the political party al-Hirak.

South Yemen Flag

The flag of South Yemen used today by the political party al-Hirak.

King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia and Imam Ahmad of Yemen (c. 1955).

King Ibn Saud and Imam Ahmad

King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia and Imam Ahmad of Yemen (c. 1955).

An Egyptian soldier showing a Yemeni recruit how to use a bayonet in the 1960s.

Egyptian Military in Yemen

An Egyptian soldier showing a Yemeni recruit how to use a bayonet in the 1960s.

Houthi fighters in 2009.

Houthi Fighters

Houthi fighters in 2009.

The aftermath of Saudi bombings in Sana’a in 2015.

Sana’a Bombing

The aftermath of Saudi bombings in Sana’a in 2015.

Anti-Houthi protests in Sana’a in 2017.

Anti-Houthi Protests

Anti-Houthi protests in Sana’a in 2017.

Yemeni canal workers in 2003.

Canal Workers

Yemeni canal workers in 2003.

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Cite this Site

Asher Orkaby , "Yemen: A Civil War Centuries in the Making" , Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective

April, 2019

https://origins.osu.edu/article/yemen-civil-war-houthi-humanitarian-crisis-arabia-zaydi?language_content_entity=en.