Yemen

Saudi Arabia’s new, exit-focused strategy for Yemen implicitly weakens the country’s formal institutions and provides greater political leverage for the Houthis, imposing indirect costs that could undercut prospects for a broader U.N.-led Yemeni peace process.

Regardless of how or when the current conflict in Yemen ends, child soldiers are not simply going to disappear.

On August 24, AGSIW hosted a virtual roundtable with Steven Fagin, the United States ambassador to the Republic of Yemen.

Now that the war against the Houthis appears to be nearing an end, the head of the Southern Transitional Council is making his move to push for Southern independence.

If the international community wants to ensure that Yemen’s war actually ends when the peace deal is signed, it needs to rebuild the country’s economy.

Saudi Arabia is looking for an exit from Yemen. While a Saudi withdrawal is unlikely to end Yemen’s civil war, the Saudis are likely to proceed if Iran can keep the Houthis onside.

Saudi-Houthi backchannel talks will not succeed in generating a comprehensive political settlement unless the concerns and grievances of all Yemeni factions as well as the region's long-term stability are given due consideration.

Iran has leverage, influence, and history with the Houthis. As Saudi Arabia tries to extract itself from Yemen, Tehran will utilize all three to prolong the conflict.