What on Earth is happening in Yemen?

Will all the world's focus on the war in Ukraine, everyone in the West seems to have forgotten the horrors of another war - the one in Yemen.

The conflict in Yemen began in 2014, when Houthi rebels, a Shia Muslim group, seized control of the capital city of Sana'a and much of northern Yemen. The conflict has since escalated, with a coalition led by Saudi Arabia intervening on behalf of the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

The conflict in Yemen is primarily a civil war, with a range of Yemeni factions and international powers involved. The main parties to the conflict include the Houthi rebels, forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, forces loyal to the government of President Hadi, and a range of tribal militias and Islamist extremist groups.

The Houthis are a Shia Muslim group that emerged in the 1990s and have long felt marginalized by the Yemeni government, which is predominantly Sunni Muslim. The Houthis have accused the government of discrimination and have called for greater political representation and economic opportunities. The Houthis are supported by Iran, which has provided them with military and economic assistance.

The government of President Hadi, which is recognized by the international community, has been fighting to regain control of the country from the Houthi rebels. The government has been supported by a coalition led by Saudi Arabia, which has launched a military campaign against the Houthis.

The conflict has had a devastating impact on the Yemeni people, with thousands of civilians killed and millions displaced from their homes. The conflict has also led to a humanitarian crisis, with millions of Yemenis facing food and water shortages, and the country facing the world's worst cholera outbreak in modern history.

The conflict has also had regional and international consequences. The intervention by Saudi Arabia and its allies has led to increased tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, with both countries accusing each other of fueling the conflict in Yemen. The conflict has also had a destabilizing impact on the wider region, with extremist groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIS taking advantage of the chaos to carry out attacks.

In addition, the conflict has had economic consequences, with the destruction of infrastructure and the disruption of trade routes leading to a sharp decline in the Yemeni economy. The conflict has also had political consequences, with the country effectively divided between Houthi-controlled areas in the north and government-controlled areas in the south.

Efforts to find a resolution to the conflict have so far been unsuccessful. A series of UN-led peace talks have failed to produce a lasting agreement, and a ceasefire reached in 2018 quickly broke down. The conflict continues to be one of the world's most pressing humanitarian crises, with millions of Yemenis in need of assistance and a resolution to the conflict appearing increasingly elusive.