U.S. President Donald Trump launched large-scale military strikes against Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis.

About Yemen

• Location: Southwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula.
• Capital: Sana’a (under Houthi control).
• Borders:
  • North → Saudi Arabia
  • East → Oman
  • South → Arabian Sea & Gulf of Aden
  • West → Red Sea
• Strategic Importance:
  • Controls eastern shore of Bab el Mandeb Strait, crucial for maritime trade.
  • Located at a vital chokepoint connecting Red Sea → Gulf of Aden → Indian Ocean.
• Civil War Background:
  • About Houthi: They are a large clan belonging to the Zaidi Shia sect, with roots in Yemen’s northwestern Sa’dah province. 
  • They are a militant group that has been fighting the civil war in Yemen for a decade. 
  • Houthi Movement:
    • It originated in the 1990s against President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s regime.
    • Currently controls northern Yemen and has a significant presence across regions.
  • Iran’s Role:
    • Houthis are backed by Iran (arms, finances).
  • Support for Hamas:
    • Despite Hamas being Sunni, Houthis support them due to shared opposition to the US & Israel.

About Red Sea

• Strategic Importance:
  • Vital waterway for global commerce & energy shipping.
  • Connects the Mediterranean Sea (via Suez Canal) → Indian Ocean (via Bab el Mandeb Strait).
• Bordering Countries( Mnemonic: SEED + Saudi Arabia & Yemen):
  • Eastern Shore → Saudi Arabia, Yemen
  • Western Shore → Sudan, Egypt, Eritrea, Djibouti
• Geological Feature:
  • Part of Great Rift Valley.

Key Straits

1. Bab el Mandeb Strait
   • Located at the southern entrance of the Red Sea, connecting it to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
2. Strait of Tiran 
   • Situated at the northern end of the Red Sea, separating the Sinai Peninsula from the Saudi Arabian coastline and providing access to the Gulf of Aqaba.