The Saada wars

I · June–September 2004The first war

The war began, in the words of the International Crisis Group, as “a quasi-police operation” to arrest a former member of parliament.² In June 2004 the government arrested hundreds of Houthi supporters and offered a reward for Hussein al-Houthi. Fighting broke out in Saada. In September, Hussein was killed by government forces. Hundreds died in the first round.¹ ■ Documented

Hussein’s death did not end the movement. Many Zaydis saw him as a martyr, and recruitment grew.³ His father, Badr al-Din, chose Hussein’s younger brother Abdulmalik as successor, over five older brothers. By 2005 Abdulmalik had secured the leadership. He has led the movement ever since.³ ■ Documented

II · 2005–2008Four more rounds

Fighting resumed in March 2005. Saleh offered a presidential pardon, which the Houthis turned down. In March 2006, before the presidential election, the government released some 600 Houthi fighters. In 2007, a ceasefire mediated by Qatar sent Abdulmalik briefly into exile. In 2008 the fighting reached the outskirts of Sanaa, and on 17 July Saleh declared it over.¹² ■ Documented

III · How the war was foughtBoth sides

The Crisis Group found that army shelling, air bombardment and indiscriminate violence by soldiers and police destroyed villages and infrastructure. The government relied on tribal militias and largely denied journalists, diplomats and aid agencies access to Saada. The same report found that the Houthis committed brutal acts of their own, including looting and kidnapping.² ■ Documented

Human Rights Watch called it Yemen’s “forgotten war”. In 2008 it reported that tens of thousands of civilians were cut off from aid because the government blocked access.⁴ ■ Documented

IV · August 2009–February 2010The sixth war and Saudi Arabia

On 11 August 2009 the army launched Operation Scorched Earth, its largest offensive yet. In late 2009 the fighting crossed the border for the first time. Saudi forces fought the Houthis and retook border areas they had seized. The Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of backing the Yemeni government. Riyadh said it was defending its territory.¹ ■ Documented

By January 2010 more than 250,000 people had been driven from their homes by the fighting, according to the UN.⁵ In February a ceasefire took hold, and both sides released hundreds of prisoners.¹⁶ There was no political settlement. ■ Documented

V · The Iran questionWhat is known

The government accused the Houthis of aligning with Iran and Hezbollah throughout the wars. In 2009 the Crisis Group described this foreign dimension as hard to evaluate.² The Mapping Militants Project assesses that Iran likely began supporting the movement, including with weapons, around 2009, and cites weapons seizures in 2013 as confirmation. Iranian officials deny providing substantial aid.³ Later chapters will set out the UN Panel of Experts’ findings on weapons. ■ Documented · assessments differ