Bahrain's Role In Yemen's War: An Overview

Bahrain is one of the nine countries that participated in the Saudi-led coalition's military intervention in Yemen, which began in March 2015. The coalition, which included Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates, launched airstrikes and imposed a blockade on the Houthi rebels, who had ousted the Yemeni president, Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, and taken control of the capital, Sanaa, in September 2014. Bahrain also participated in several ground operations and provided air and ground forces. The intervention was in response to a request by President Hadi for military support after he fled to Saudi Arabia.

Bahrain's involvement in the 2024 missile strikes in Yemen

The missile strikes began on 12 January 2024, with the first wave of strikes taking place around 2:30 a.m. Yemen time. American fighter jets and 22 fixed-wing aircraft, including F/A-18s, were dispatched, along with the cruiser USS Philippine Sea, the destroyers USS Gravely and USS Mason, and the cruise-missile submarine USS Florida, which launched a total of 80 Tomahawk cruise missiles. More than 100 missiles hit over 60 targets in 16 locations. About 30 to 60 minutes later, a second wave of strikes hit dozens more targets in 12 other locations.

The coalition strikes targeted Houthi capabilities to attack Red Sea targets, including coastal missile batteries, loitering munitions, and fast-attack craft. The coalition aimed to degrade the Houthis' ability to launch complex drone and missile attacks, which had previously targeted commercial ships and vessels with perceived links to Israel.

The Houthis had declared their attacks as a show of support for Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war. However, they soon began indiscriminately targeting vessels, causing disruptions to trade in one of the world's busiest maritime routes. The Houthis' attacks on shipping were condemned by the United Nations Security Council a day before the initial strike.

The coalition's actions were not without controversy. Some critics argued that US President Joe Biden should have sought authorization from Congress before initiating military action. There were also concerns about the impact of the strikes on the delivery of humanitarian aid to Yemen, which was already facing a worsening political and socioeconomic crisis.

The country's bilateral relations with Yemen

Bahrain and Yemen were both part of the Persian Empire, and later the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates. Both countries have embassies in each other's capitals.

Economic cooperation between the two countries has been limited, with the relationship extending to the political sphere after the establishment of the Yemeni unity in 1994. In 1997, the relationship became more significant, with the establishment of a joint bank and a company to market and support Yemeni exports. A convention on tax exemption was also signed in November 1998.

In 2014, Bahrain was one of the nine countries from West Asia and North Africa that formed a coalition led by Saudi Arabia to intervene in the Yemeni Civil War. The coalition launched a military intervention in Yemen at the request of Yemeni president Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, who had been ousted from the capital, Sanaa, in September 2014 by Houthi insurgents.

In 2015, Bahrain took part in Operation Decisive Storm, which consisted of airstrikes on Houthi rebels and a full blockade. The operation was declared over on April 21, 2015, and was followed by Operation Restoring Hope, which comprised a combination of political, diplomatic, and military action. Bahrain also headed several ground operations.

In 2024, Bahrain, along with the US and other Western countries, took part in missile strikes in Yemen.

The role of the US and other Western countries in the 2024 missile strikes

The US and other Western countries have played a significant role in the 2024 missile strikes in Yemen, which were carried out in response to Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea. Codenamed Operation Poseidon Archer, the strikes were authorized by US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. The operation involved US fighter jets, armed with precision-guided bombs, and 22 fixed-wing aircraft, including F/A-18s, which took off from the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. The US also deployed the cruiser USS Philippine Sea, the destroyers USS Gravely and USS Mason, and the submarine USS Florida, which launched a total of 80 Tomahawk cruise missiles. The UK contributed four Royal Air Force Typhoon jets and two Royal Air Force Voyager air-to-air refueling tankers.

The first wave of strikes began around 2:30 a.m. on January 12, 2024, with more than 100 missiles hitting over 60 targets in 16 locations. A second wave of strikes, consisting of over 50 missiles, followed 30 to 60 minutes later, targeting dozens more targets in 12 other locations. The targets included logistics centers, air defense systems, and weapons storage sites.

The US and its allies conducted additional strikes on January 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 27, 31, and February 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 29, and March 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 22, 24, 29, and April 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 14, 15, 16, 25, 29, and May 2, 7, 13, 15, 22, 24, 29, and 30. The US and the UK also conducted joint airstrikes on February 24 and 25, and March 30.

The stated purpose of the strikes was to degrade the Houthis' capabilities to attack targets in the Red Sea and to protect freedom of navigation. However, the strikes resulted in civilian casualties and drew condemnation from the United Nations Security Council and other international actors.

The history of Bahrain-Yemen relations

Historical Context

Bahrain and Yemen have a shared history that dates back centuries. Both countries were part of the Persian Empire and later became a part of the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates. Over time, the two nations developed their own unique identities, with Bahrain establishing itself as a small island kingdom in the Persian Gulf, while Yemen unified into a republic in the southern Arabian Peninsula. Despite their differences, Bahrain and Yemen have maintained diplomatic relations and continue to have embassies in each other's capitals, Manama and Sana'a, respectively.

Economic Cooperation

The economic relationship between Bahrain and Yemen has had its ups and downs over the years. It began in 1979 with limited trade cooperation, which later expanded to the political sphere after the establishment of Yemeni unity in 1994. The relationship became more significant in 1997, with the establishment of a joint bank and a company to support and market Yemeni exports. In November 1998, the two countries signed a convention for tax-exempt mutual cooperation.

2024 Missile Strikes

In 2024, Bahrain participated in missile strikes against Yemen alongside the US and other Western countries. This military action was a recent development in the complex relationship between the two countries and has likely had a significant impact on their diplomatic ties.

The Yemen Civil War

Bahrain's involvement in the Yemen Civil War, which began in 2014, has been a significant development in its relations with Yemen. As part of a Saudi-led coalition, Bahrain joined other Gulf countries in supporting the ousted Yemeni president, Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. In March 2015, Bahrain contributed to "Operation Decisive Storm," which included air strikes and a naval blockade against the Houthi rebels. This intervention was in response to the Houthis taking control of Sana'a and ousting Hadi. However, Bahrain's role in the conflict has also been met with criticism, as the Saudi-led coalition has been accused of killing thousands of non-combatants and intensifying the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

Regional Power Dynamics

The civil war in Yemen has also drawn in other regional powers, further complicating Bahrain's relationship with the country. Iran's support for the Houthi rebels has been a significant factor, as it has led to tensions between Sunni-majority Bahrain and Shiite-majority Iran. Additionally, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has played a significant role in the conflict, often at odds with the Houthis and seeking to counter Iranian influence in the region.

Peace Efforts

Despite the ongoing conflict, there have been efforts to achieve peace between the warring parties. In 2018, the UN sponsored talks between the Hadi government and the Houthis, which included a ceasefire agreement and plans for a political resolution. However, these efforts have been challenging due to continued clashes and political divisions within Yemen.

Bahrain's stance on the UN Human Rights Council's investigations into war crimes in Yemen

In October 2022, the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) failed to renew the mandate of the Group of Eminent Experts (GoEE), which had been investigating alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws in Yemen since 2017. This prompted the Netherlands' ambassador to the UN in Geneva to state that the UNHRC had "failed the people of Yemen".

In response to the UNHRC's failure to renew the GoEE's mandate, the Netherlands delivered a joint statement on behalf of 37 countries, urging UN member countries to "use all opportunities within the UN system to assess facts on the ground in an impartial manner, and work towards accountability".

However, Bahrain, along with Russia and other members of the UNHRC, opposed the investigations and voted against the renewal of the GoEE's mandate. Bahrain's ally, Saudi Arabia, is not a voting member of the council but reportedly heavily lobbied against the resolution.

Despite the lack of support from Bahrain and other nations, the UNHRC could still create a new Yemen accountability mechanism. In the past, similar mechanisms have been established by the UNHRC and the UN General Assembly in response to war crimes and human rights abuses in other countries.

The conflict in Yemen has resulted in horrific abuses and violations of international law by all parties involved, causing thousands of civilian casualties and sparking the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Bahrain's opposition to the UNHRC's investigations may be influenced by its alliance with Saudi Arabia, which has been accused of directing airstrikes that inflicted heavy civilian casualties and deepened the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

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