Since 2015 Yemen has been embroiled in a multiparty war with a high level of regionalization (i.e., military involvement by external states). The primary domestic conflict actors are the Zaydi Shia Houthi rebels, known as Ansar Allah, and the Government of Yemen (GoY). Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) support the GoY, while Iran and Hezbollah have provided military support to Ansar Allah.
The conflict has been mediated by multiple actors, including the United Nations (UN), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United States (US). Importantly, Saudi Arabia is not only a conflict party but also a mediator, and it is one of the largest aid providers to Yemen. As a mediator, it has attempted both to resolve conflicts within the anti-Houthi coalition and, since 2022, to negotiate a settlement between the coalition and Ansar Allah. Due to the presence of multiple mediators, and in light of the dominant role of Saudi Arabia, the UN’s room for manoeuvre has decreased over time. Rather than engaging the UN mediators, the domestic conflict parties have turned to regional states or used military force to pursue their goals. Despite numerous mediation attempts over the past nine years, the conflict remains unresolved and the frontlines are largely frozen. This paper discusses how the regionalized nature of the conflict has impacted mediation efforts and strategies between 2011 and 2023.
