Increased Clashes in Yemen

With all of the protests and rebellions occurring around the world Yemen seems at times to be forgotten. The official conflict began almost a year ago, and has been mostly peaceful protests against the regime of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Saleh's government has faced difficulties before. Back in 2004, Zaidi Shias, rebelled against the elected government citing that they were being persecuted by the majority Shiite government and country.

President Saleh has officially handed power over to Vice President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi. He signed an agreement to step down, in November, and continues to serve as honorary President until polls are held in February. The UN and Saleh's opposition are unhappy with the US written agreement, as it contains an amnesty clause for Saleh. The latest violence threatens the peaceful transition though.

In parts of Yemen, there is out right civil war, though most of the fighting is not actually against the government. It is almost between the different ethnic groups: the now familiar Sunnis versus Shia Muslims, though in Yemen the Houthis are at war with the Sunnis as well.

United States military forces have at times taken part in this conflict, mostly through air strikes against Al Qaeda linked rebel groups. The US is considered a strong ally of Saleh's government. Yemen is positioned in a very key strategic location, south of Saudi Arabia, along the Gulf of Aden, and stuck between the Red and Arabian Seas.