Knowledge Tree
Relations (1)
cross_type 4.86 — strongly supporting 21 facts
Iran and Yemen are linked through Iran's role as a primary supporter of the Houthi movement in Yemen's civil war [1], which has made Yemen a central theater for regional proxy conflicts between Iran and Saudi Arabia {fact:2, fact:14, fact:25}. Their relationship is defined by Iran's efforts to project influence through Yemeni militias {fact:5, fact:12, fact:13} and the subsequent diplomatic efforts to de-escalate these tensions {fact:8, fact:9, fact:20}.
Facts (21)
Sources
Opportunities for Collective Regional Security in the Middle East carnegieendowment.org 17 facts
accountDespite setbacks including the collapse of Hamas, the weakening of Hezbollah, and the fall of the Assad regime, Iran continues to rebuild its network of influence and support its allies and militias in Iraq and Yemen.
claimThe 2023 diplomatic success between Saudi Arabia and Iran led to a decrease in military confrontations in Yemen, a partial withdrawal of Saudi and Emirati forces, and a noticeable decrease in Houthi aggression against Saudi and Emirati territories.
claimTürkiye's support for Islamist groups in Libya, Syria, and Yemen caused its diplomatic, political, and trade relations with most Gulf countries, Iraq, and Iran to deteriorate into tensions and confrontation.
claimRegional actors are currently involved in direct or proxy conflicts: Israel is in tension with Iran; Türkiye is intervening in Syria and Iraq; the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are militarily involved in Yemen; and Egypt is involved in Libya, Sudan, and the Horn of Africa.
claimIran's traditional strategies to regain influence, such as reasserting the power of its allies in Gaza and Lebanon, rallying the Assad regime in Syria, or deploying Iraqi and Yemeni militias in cross-border operations against Israel, have proven inadequate.
claimBetween 2011 and 2020, Iranian policies, specifically the reliance on militias to execute regional aims, contributed to the destabilization of Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.
claimBy October 7, 2023, Iran reestablished diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia through Chinese mediation, which facilitated relative stability in Yemen.
claimSaudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates sought to contain Iranian regional expansion in Bahrain, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.
accountIran expanded its influence in Yemen by providing military, financial, and political support to the Houthi movement, which rose to prominence during the civil war following the 2011 uprising.
claimDespite strategic retreats, Iran is likely to leverage its military, financial, and organizational assets to rebuild cohesion among its proxies in Palestine and Lebanon, reinforce factions in Iraq and Yemen, and adapt to the situation in Syria.
accountPrior to October 2023, Saudi Arabia was distancing itself from regional conflicts like the war in Yemen and normalizing relations with Iran in exchange for security guarantees.
claimIran and Israel have played central roles in perpetuating violence across Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
accountIsrael escalated its military offensives against Iran and its proxies in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen in response to attacks from the Iranian bloc.
claimIsrael's current strategic focus is countering Shiite militias in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen to limit Iranian regional leverage.
accountIn the spring of 2023, China brokered a diplomatic agreement that restored diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which had been severed in 2016 due to hostilities in Yemen.
claimIran and Saudi Arabia reached an accord to restore diplomatic ties and de-escalate the conflict in Yemen.
measurementThe proxy war in Yemen, fought between Iran-backed Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions of people between 2015 and 2023.
From Arab Spring to regional reset: Saudi-Iranian rivalry ... - Frontiers frontiersin.org 2 facts
referenceT. Juneau authored the article 'Iran's policy towards the Houthis in Yemen: a limited return on a modest investment,' published in International Affairs in 2020.
referenceD. Esfandiary and A. Tabatabai authored the article 'Yemen: an opportunity for Iran-Saudi dialogue?' published in The Washington Quarterly in 2016.
After the War: Rethinking Regional Security in the Middle ... arab-reform.net 1 fact
claimGulf states, Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen are identified as pressure points through which Iran can threaten the wider regional and international system.
Three Scenarios for the Middle East Crisis, and How to Prepare for ... supplychainbrain.com 1 fact
claimThe 'significant escalation' scenario involves an intensifying U.S.-Israeli campaign to destroy Iran's military capability, with Israel pursuing broader security objectives in Lebanon and elsewhere, while pressure increases on Persian Gulf states and groups like the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon threaten to expand the conflict to the Red Sea and eastern Mediterranean.