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March 23, 2015

U.N. Warns of Civil War in Yemen as Violence Grows; U.S. Closes Key Base 
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Yemen could be on the brink of civil war amidst escalating clashes
between government forces and Shia Houthi rebels, and an attack on two
mosques that killed dozens. The Houthis have seized the country's third
largest city, Taiz, and its military airport. In recent days,
unidentified warplanes have reportedly bombed the Aden headquarters of
President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Hadi has asked the United Nations for
"urgent intervention" to defend his government against the Houthis'
advance. Briefing the Security Council on Sunday, U.N. envoy Jamal
Benomar warned the situation in Yemen could become an "Iraq-Libya-Syria"
scenario.

Jamal Benomar: "It would be an illusion to think that the Houthis could
mount an offensive and succeed in taking control of the entire country,
including Marib, Taiz and the south. It would be equally false to think
that President Hadi could assemble sufficient forces to liberate the
country from the Houthis. Any side that would want to push the country
in either direction would be inviting a protracted conflict in the vein
of an Iraq-Libya-Syria combined scenario."

The latest unrest comes after suicide bombers attacked two mosques in
the capital Sana'a on Friday, killing more than 130 worshipers and
wounding hundreds. The so-called Islamic State claimed responsibility.
The United States has evacuated its remaining personnel from Yemen and
recalled approximately 100 special operations forces from a southern
military base key in the drone war against al-Qaeda.

 

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