Iran's Shadow in Yamen: Unpacking the Regional Implication

Abstract

The fighting in Yemen that began in 2015 has turned into one of the biggest humanitarian disasters of recent times and Iran has been influential in guiding how the war has progressed. This paper looks at Iran's strategic actions in Yemen by focusing on its support for the Houthi movement, which started as an insurgency and then developed into an important quasi-state player. The arming, training and support Iran provides to the Houthis have greatly affected the balance of power in Yemen and allowed the Houthis to challenge Saudi Arabia in the Middle East and hinder shipping via the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Because of their common enemy in Saudi Arabia, Iran and the Houthis work together which has led to more disturbance in the region. In this paper, the case study method and information from scholarly writings and policy documents are used to understand how Iran using the Houthis aligns with its regional policy of proxy conflicts. The research shows how Iran can expand its influence in the region without fighting, as it turns to local groups to face-off against rivals such as Saudi Arabia and the United States. Besides, the paper analyzes how the conflict has made the GCC less unified, divisions between members which highlights how many people have been relocated, experienced hunger and received poorly. Iran’s involvement in causing more fighting led to increased attention from the whole world. This research finds that the way Iran acts in Yemen proves they prefer to use proxy wars to maintain their status as a key player in the region and factor in worldwide issues of trade, energy and religion. Yemen’s population has carried heavy burdens and the Houthis have gained a higher influence in the area. Reducing tensions is the top strategy to solve this crisis and weaken Iran’s influence on the region.