HUMAN WRONGS WATCH

Human Wrongs Watch

3 April 2015 (RT)* – The war in Yemen is developing into a disaster for the US and Saudis as al-Qaeda is becoming stronger and might make Yemen, once a model example for the US ‘war on terror’, its headquarters, Abdel Bari Atwan, former editor-in-chief of Al Quds, told RT.

Children attend classes in Yemen, where over 600 schools have been damaged as a result of conflict. Photo: UNICEF

RT: You’ve written a series of books about al-Qaeda. What can you tell us about its position in Yemen? They are taking advantage of the current situation, don’t they?

Abdel Bari Atwan: Oh, yes, definitely. It is a golden opportunity for al-Qaeda to take advantage of the anarchy which is spreading in the whole country now. I believe that al-Qaeda will be the greatest beneficiary from this kind of anarchy. We know that al-Qaeda in Yemen is very strong and [it] is getting stronger, and stronger.

Human Wrongs Watch

DUBAI, 3 April 2015 (IRIN*) – A week ago, a coalition of 10 countries led by Saudi Arabia began to bomb Yemen. The unrest involves several different actors and constantly changing allegiances. Here is IRIN’s guide to the major players in the conflict and a reading list to help unravel the complex reasons behind it:

**Photo: Almigdad Mojalli/IRIN | Yemenis search through the rubble after an airstrike in the capital Sana’a

Ali Abdullah Saleh ruled Yemen as president for 33 years until 2011, when he agreed to leave office after 10 months of violence following Arab Spring-inspired protests. The terms of his resignation – brokered by the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) of which Saudi Arabia is a leading member – gave Saleh full immunity against prosecution and he has continued to manoeuvre behind the scenes.

During the 2000s, his government fought a five-year war with the Houthis, who opposed Saleh’s close ties with Saudi Arabia and his support for US-led counter-terrorism operations. However, in recent months, the former president, who still commands loyalty within the Yemeni military, has switched sides and now backs the Houthis against the Saudi-led assault.