Bahrain's Perspective On Yemen's Crisis: A Complex Stance

The Yemen crisis is one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. The conflict has been ongoing for over nine years, and has resulted in millions of people being displaced. Yemen's civil war began in 2015, when clashes broke out between Yemeni government forces and Houthi insurgents, also known as Ansar Allah. The conflict has taken a heavy toll on civilians, with two-thirds of the population in dire need of humanitarian assistance. Bahrain is one of the countries that has been involved in the conflict, as part of a Saudi-led coalition of Arab states that have launched air strikes and imposed a naval blockade on the Houthi insurgents. The coalition has included Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Sudan, and Kuwait.

Bahrain's participation in the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen

Bahrain's involvement in the conflict can be understood in the context of its strategic relationship with Saudi Arabia. Bahrain's ruling Sunni Muslim Al Khalifa royal family has historically maintained close ties with Saudi Arabia, which was evident in the Saudi-led intervention in Bahrain in 2011 to suppress anti-government protests. This intervention was in response to Bahrain's Shia-majority population demanding greater political freedom and an end to the monarchy. The presence of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain also aligns with US interests in the region.

Bahrain's participation in the Yemen conflict is part of its broader foreign policy, which includes maintaining strong relations with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf allies while also fostering ties with Western powers like the US and the UK. Bahrain's military, the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF), is relatively small but well-equipped, with US-made equipment and training. The BDF has been active in countering Houthi advances and protecting Saudi Arabia's southern border.

The Bahraini government has framed its involvement in the Yemen conflict as a necessary step to counter Iranian influence and support for the Houthis, which they view as a threat to regional stability. However, Bahrain's role in the conflict has also drawn criticism, particularly from human rights organisations, for its contribution to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. The conflict has resulted in thousands of civilian casualties, and Bahrain, along with other coalition members, has been accused of violating international humanitarian law.

The Houthi takeover of the Yemeni government

The takeover had its origins in Houthi-led protests that began in August 2014, sparked by the Yemeni government's removal of fuel subsidies. On September 21, 2014, the Houthis stormed the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, causing the resignation of Prime Minister Mohammed Basindawa. The Yemeni Army did not formally intervene, apart from troops affiliated with General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar and the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Al-Islah Party. The Houthis took control of key government buildings and signed a UN-brokered deal with the government to form a "unity government".

In January 2015, the situation escalated when Houthi fighters seized control of the presidential palace and Hadi's residence, demanding more influence over the government and the drafting of a new constitution. Hadi and his government resigned en masse rather than comply with the Houthis' demands. The Houthis then dissolved parliament and installed a Revolutionary Committee as the interim authority.

The Houthi-led interim authority was rejected by other internal opposition groups and was not recognized internationally. In March 2015, a Saudi Arabian-led intervention began with airstrikes and a naval blockade aimed at restoring Hadi's government to power. This marked the beginning of the Yemeni Civil War, with the Houthis on one side and a coalition of Gulf states led by Saudi Arabia on the other, receiving logistical and intelligence support from the US.

The civil war in Yemen

Beginning in March 2015, a coalition of Gulf states led by Saudi Arabia, and supported by the US, launched a campaign of economic isolation and airstrikes against the Houthi insurgents. In February 2015, after escaping from Sanaa, Hadi rescinded his resignation, complicating the UN-supported transitional council formed to govern from the southern port city of Aden. However, a Houthi advance forced Hadi to flee Aden for exile in Saudi Arabia.

The intervention of regional powers, including Iran and Gulf states led by Saudi Arabia, drew the country into a regional proxy struggle along the broader Sunni-Shia divide. In June 2015, Saudi Arabia implemented a naval blockade to prevent Iran from supplying the Houthis, which raised the risk of military escalation between the two countries.

The Houthis made fast progress at the start of the war, moving eastward to Marib and pushing south to Aden in early 2015. However, a Saudi intervention pushed them back, and the frontlines stabilized. A UN effort to broker peace talks between the Houthi rebels and the internationally recognized Yemeni government stalled in the summer of 2016.

In February 2018, the UN appointed longtime British diplomat Martin Griffiths as a Special Envoy for Yemen. In February 2021, Houthi rebels launched an offensive to seize Marib, the last stronghold of Yemen's internationally recognized government. In early March, Houthi rebels conducted missile airstrikes in Saudi Arabia, targeting oil tankers, facilities, and international airports. The Saudi-led coalition responded with airstrikes targeting Sanaa.

The conflict has taken a heavy toll on Yemeni civilians, making Yemen the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The UN estimates that 60% of the estimated 377,000 deaths in Yemen between 2015 and the beginning of 2022 were the result of indirect causes like food insecurity and lack of accessible health services. Two-thirds of the population, or 21.6 million Yemenis, remain in dire need of assistance, with 5 million at risk of famine. A cholera outbreak has affected over 1 million people.

The war in Ukraine has also impacted Yemen, as global food and fuel prices have increased, disrupting supply chains. Despite ongoing humanitarian assistance, 17.3 million Yemenis suffer from high levels of acute food insecurity, with 6 million people on the brink of famine.

The humanitarian crisis in Yemen

Yemen is currently facing one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, with millions of children in need of humanitarian assistance. The crisis has been exacerbated by nine years of conflict, socioeconomic collapse, large-scale displacement, and recurring climate shocks, all of which have left families vulnerable to communicable disease outbreaks.

The Impact on Children

The ongoing conflict has had a devastating impact on children, with thousands killed or maimed, and thousands more recruited as child soldiers. Years of conflict have left millions of people in need of mental health services, and children are being robbed of their futures. The conflict has also disrupted access to education, with more than 4.5 million children of school age not attending school. For those who do attend, classrooms are overcrowded, and teachers are overburdened and unequipped.

Malnutrition and Healthcare

The conflict has exacerbated the ongoing malnutrition crisis in Yemen, with around 2.7 million children suffering from acute malnutrition, including hundreds of thousands with severe acute malnutrition, a life-threatening condition if left untreated. The conflict has also disrupted access to healthcare, with hospitals and schools damaged or closed. This has contributed to regular outbreaks of cholera, measles, diphtheria, and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

Impact on Women

Women and children are bearing the brunt of the crisis, with more than three-quarters of all displaced people in Yemen being women and children. Women are forced to take on the responsibility of sustaining their families while facing inequality, limited access to services, and multiple barriers due to sociocultural norms. With rampant inflation, many can no longer afford basic meals and are at increased risk of starvation, gender-based violence, exploitation, and early marriage.

Famine Risk

The risk of a large-scale famine in Yemen is extremely high, with tens of thousands already living in famine-like conditions and millions more just one step away. The war in Ukraine has contributed to this risk by increasing global food and fuel prices, disrupting supply chains, and causing prices for wheat and grain to soar. Despite ongoing humanitarian assistance, 17.3 million Yemenis suffer from high levels of acute food insecurity.

UNHCR Response

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is providing lifesaving aid to displaced Yemenis and refugees and asylum seekers in the country, reaching people in need in all 20 governorates affected by the conflict. UNHCR provides shelter kits, mats, and plastic sheets to help families repair damaged homes and supports health facilities serving refugees and those affected by violence. They also provide cash assistance, legal assistance, and psychosocial support, along with a range of protection services, including the prevention of gender-based violence.

The truce and peace talks in Yemen

The truce included allowing fuel imports into Houthi-held areas and some flights operating from Sana'a airport to Jordan and Egypt. The UN announced on 2 June 2022 that the truce had been further extended by two months, with the US praising Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and Oman for helping to secure the truce. In August 2022, the truce was renewed with a commitment to an expanded truce agreement as soon as possible.

However, despite the truce, Houthi forces resumed attacks on the front lines of the battle for Marib, and in January 2023, the Houthis launched an unprecedented attack on a US destroyer in the Red Sea. In March 2023, the Houthis agreed to release 887 detainees following 10 days of negotiations in Switzerland.

In April 2023, talks between Saudi Arabia and Houthi rebels resumed, mediated by Oman. This was the first official Houthi visit to the Saudi capital since the war began. However, no concrete progress was made, with discussions centred around the reopening of Houthi-controlled ports and Sana'a airport, reconstruction efforts, and a timeline for foreign forces to withdraw from Yemen.

In September 2023, a Houthi drone strike killed four Bahraini members of the Saudi-led coalition. Despite this, Saudi Arabia and Yemen continued to advance the UN-led peace process. However, there is a growing fear that attacks by Houthis on cargo ships in the Red Sea could further endanger the signing of a peace agreement.

In October 2023, a breakthrough agreement was reached between Iran and Saudi Arabia to re-establish diplomatic relations and re-open embassies, mediated by China. This raised hopes of a political settlement to end the conflict in Yemen.

In April 2024, the Houthis hijacked a commercial ship in the Red Sea and attacked at least 33 others with drones, missiles, and speedboats. In response, the US and UK carried out coordinated air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in January 2024.

As of May 2024, the Houthis continue to attack ships in the Red Sea, and a peace deal is at a standstill.

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