ConflictBarometer_2015

MIDDLE EAST AND MAGHREB
Al-Houthi militants were supported by considerable
parts of the former Yemeni military forces loyal to
former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, among them units of
the former Republican Guards and Special Security Forces
(SSF). Overall, at least 6,000 people were killed, among
them more than 2,800 civil-ians, about 29,000
wounded, 2.5 million internally displaced and 125,000 to
200,000 fled the country throughout the year.
The attempt of Hadi's government to vote on a new constitution
despite Houthi objections was followed by
clashes in Sana'a between January 19 and 21. Al-Houthi
fighters seized the presidential palace on January 21,
putting Hadi under house arrest. One day later, the
government resigned. On February 2, in the context of
the National Dialogue Conference in Sana'a, al-Houthis
set Yemen's political parties a two-day ultimatum to
find a political solution. As this did not
materialize, they dissolved the parliament on February
6, forming a 551-member interim National Council
overseen by the al-Houthi's Revolutionary Committee.
Hadi first fled to Aden on February 21 and then escaped
advancing al-Houthis to arrive at the Yemeni-Omani
border on March 26. One day before, Hadi had requested
immediate military intervention by the Arab League
against what he called an Iranian expansion in Yemen.
Subsequently, an Arab coalition, led by Saudi Arabia and
sup-ported by the USA, France and the United Kingdom
launched a military intervention targeting the al-Houthi
movement and providing assistance to the forces loyal to
the Yemeni government. The coalition consisted of the
states of UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, Morocco,
Sudan, Egypt, Senegal and Pakistan. The coalition launched
''Operation Decisive Storm'' on March 26 using warships,
ground troops, and reportedly 185 fighter jets, bombing al-
Houthi targets at al-Daylami Air Force Base and Sana'a
International Airport. In the following days, the airstrikes
targeted weapon depots, army and air force bases of
both al-Houthi forces and those loyal to Saleh,
especially in the governorates Ma'rib, Sa'ada,
Shabwah, Taiz, and Sana'a.
Between February and June, al-Houthis seized the
capitals of the governorates al-Bayda, Taiz, al-Abyan,
Shabwah, and al-Jawf. They extended their control of
numerous cities and military sites. For instance, they
seized a military camp of troops loyal to Hadi in al-
Sabahah on February 24 and 25, killing ten people.
On March 25, al-Houthi forces gained control of al-
Anad Air Base in Lahij Governorate. The following day,
the militants seized further parts of Aden, Aden
International Airport, and al-Badr military camp. By
April 2, al-Houthi forces controlled most of Aden but
had to cede territory to pro-Hadi forces the next day.
Starting from April 15, the pro-Hadi 35th Armored
Brigade clashed with al-Houthi fighters supported
by SSF in al-Nour, Taiz. On April 22, al-Houthi forces
seized the brigade's base. On April 20, an airstrike on a
military base in Faj Attan near Sana'a killed at least 30
people and left up to 250 wounded, most of them
reportedly civilians. ''Operation Decisive Storm'' officially
ended on April 21 with ''Operation Restoring Hope'' starting
the next day. Compared to the former, the latter
involved larger foreign ground troop contingents, including
2,100 Senegalese soldiers, and had the stated aim of protecting
citizens and fighting terrorism.
In the second half of the year, 6,000 Sudanese, 1,000
Qataris, and other foreign troops were sent to reinforce
the coalition in Ma'rib. Saudi Arabia remained the
largest provider of ground troops. In addition to
coalition troops, the UAE sent 450 mercenaries,
predominantly of Colombian origin.
Coalition-led airstrikes continued to target al-Houthi
posi-tions. For instance, in Hajjah and Sa'ada
governorates on May 6, strikes left 43 dead and more
than 100 wounded. Another severe strike reportedly
targeting a missile base in Sana'a, killed approx. 90 and
wounded more than 300. Coalition airstrikes in Aden,
Amran, Ma'rib, and Lahij on July 6 left at least 176
people dead. This was the highest number of fatalities
caused by airstrikes on a single day.
Forces of the popular resistance and Saudi Arabia made
significant territorial gains, seizing Aden International Airport
on July 14. Subsequently, senior members of the
government returned to Aden, announcing to set up state
institutions within Aden. The city was fully recaptured by
southern popular resistance fighters and coalition troops
on July 17. Yemeni Vice President Khaled Bahah returned
to Aden on August 1. In the beginning of September, the
coalition intensified airstrikes in Ma'rib, Taiz, and Sana'a in
order to secure the governorates and to reduce al-Houthi
military capacities. On September 13, the coalition
launched a ground operation in Ma'rib and Aden with the
aim to recapture Sana'a. After Saudi-led mil-itary forces
retook Anad air base in Lahij in August, Yemeni fighter jets
started to participate in the coalition's airstrikes on October
28.
One of the most contested cities was Taiz. On August
4, local popular resistance forces reportedly regained
control of large parts of the city from al-Houthi forces.
Al-Houthi fighters retook al-Bayda from pro-Hadi forces on
October 16, but were continued to be challenged by
popular resistance forces in Taiz. The fighting for Taiz
continued until the end of the year, with intense clashes on
December 26 leaving more than 30 people dead.
The international community repeatedly attempted to mediate
between the conflict parties. Hadi insisted on the
implementation of UNSC Resolution 2216 demanding al-
Houthis to disarm and to leave occupied territory. In the
end of the year, delegates of the al-Houthis, the Hadigovernment,
and the Saudi Arabia-led coalition met in Oman
on November 11 to prepare for peace talks. The talks started
on December 15 in Geneva, accompanied by a seven-day
ceasefire. On December 16, delegates agreed on a
prisoner exchange affecting 360 al-Houthi fighters and
265 members of the popular resistance. Talks stopped
on December 17, after al-Houthis had refused to release
several high profile PoWs. The negotiations ended on
December 20 with an agreement to resume talks in January
2016.
The Saudi Arabian military and al-Houthi militants continued
to clash at the Saudi-Yemeni border. These clashes intensified
significantly in the course of the Saudi-led intervention
in Yemen. Starting on March 31, al-Houthi militants and Saudi
forces exchanged rocket fire and artillery shelling, most
heavily in Shida and al-Hisama, Sa'ada, as well as Haradh,
Hajjah. These fire exchanges had left at least several dozen
people dead on both sides by the end of the year.
Further-more, ground troops repeatedly clashed at the
border. Saudi troops first entered Yemen on June 8.
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