Yemen
The Houthis' Rise
Yemen’s Houthis are among the most misunderstood groups in the world. The movement’s critics and observers fail to grasp that it does not function like a traditional hierarchical organization, which is why it has been able to adapt to the political landscape.
A Generation of Jihadists
Alongside new textbooks, authorities in Sanaa have organized summer camps, in-school festivals and other educational activities that orient students toward the battlefield. As Yemen’s conflict nears its second decade, the Houthis are striving to place the next generation on a war footing and have shown no qualms about sending underage soldiers into combat.
In Exile in Turkey, Yemen’s Muslim Brothers Cling to Caliphate Dreams
After nearly a decade of war in Yemen, many leaders of the country’s Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Islah party live in Turkey, dependent on the fluctuating support of international allies. In exile, Islah is at one of the lowest points in its history, suffering from weakness, fragmentation and poor leadership.
Amid a Houthi Escalation, Iran’s Gray Zones Begin To Shrink
The ambiguous zones of deterrence that Iran and its allies have established around the Middle East have been shrinking significantly since Oct. 7. That could constrain the way the entire Tehran-backed axis responds to an escalating Gaza war.
Qat’s Vicious Environmental Cycle
The shrub has caught Yemen in a devilish vicious cycle: As drought intensifies, more farmers turn to qat, and environmental disaster gains speed. And as more farmers turn to qat, seeds that bear food are no longer sown, and Yemen’s hunger crisis grows.
Houthis and Somali Pirates in a Hijacking Whodunit
Piracy returned to the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa in November, after a strange constellation of events that had less to do with armed Somalis in skiffs and more to do with the war in Gaza.
Food Tells the Story of Postwar Aden
War isn’t everything in Yemen, but everything is impacted by the war. Back home, I struggle to find the right words to describe Aden, because despite the destruction on a scale that outstrips any other place I have visited, Aden is beautiful, historic and warm.