Saudi Arabian Intervention in Yemen 

On 26/03/2015, a Saudi Arabian led military coalition launched Operation Decisive Storm in Yemen, beginning a large scale intervention aimed at restoring the internationally recognized government of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. The operation started after Houthi rebels, supported by military units loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, expanded their control over large parts of the country, including the capital Sana’a. The intervention marked a major escalation in Yemen’s political crisis and transformed the conflict into a broader regional war. The coalition was led by Saudi Arabia and initially included the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, Morocco, Sudan, Egypt, and Pakistan. Saudi officials announced that the campaign’s objective was to stop Houthi advances and reestablish Hadi’s authority after he fled Yemen earlier in 2015. At the time, Houthi forces had moved southward from Sana’a and were approaching the southern city of Aden, where Hadi had temporarily relocated before leaving the country. The military campaign began with extensive airstrikes targeting Houthi controlled military infrastructure in Sana’a and northern Yemen. Coalition aircraft struck airbases, missile storage sites, radar systems, fuel depots, and military compounds linked to Houthi and Saleh aligned forces. Residents in Sana’a reported heavy explosions during the opening hours of the operation as coalition jets conducted repeated bombing runs across the capital and surrounding areas. Saudi Arabia stated that the intervention was launched at the request of President Hadi and was intended to protect Yemen’s legitimate government. Coalition leaders also expressed concern about the growing influence of Iran in Yemen, accusing Tehran of supporting the Houthis politically and militarily. Iranian officials denied direct military involvement but criticized the coalition’s air campaign and called for negotiations. The United States and the United Kingdom provided logistical and intelligence assistance to coalition members during the operation. American support included aerial refueling, targeting assistance, and weapons sales, while British officials also maintained defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia. The intervention quickly drew international attention because of Yemen’s strategic location near the Bab el Mandeb Strait, a major global shipping route connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The conflict rapidly expanded after the intervention began. Fighting spread across multiple provinces as coalition airstrikes intensified and ground battles erupted between Houthi fighters, pro government forces, tribal groups, southern militias, and extremist organizations operating in Yemen. Civilian casualties and infrastructure damage increased during the following months, while humanitarian agencies warned about shortages of food, fuel, clean water, and medical supplies. Operation Decisive Storm formally transitioned into a follow up phase called Operation Restoring Hope in April 2015, though coalition airstrikes and military operations continued. Over time, the war contributed to one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with millions of Yemenis displaced or dependent on aid. Historical Significance The launch of Operation Decisive Storm marked the beginning of direct regional military intervention in Yemen’s civil war and reshaped the conflict into a prolonged internationalized crisis. The operation also intensified geopolitical tensions in the Middle East while contributing to years of humanitarian and political instability inside Yemen.