Houthis Mark 10 Years Since Seizing Sanaa as Yemen Conflict Continues
Hundreds of supporters of Yemen’s Houthi group took part in a military-style parade on Saturday, marking the tenth anniversary of the group’s takeover of the capital, Sanaa. The event highlights the ongoing conflict in Yemen, which began when the Houthis seized Sanaa on September 21, 2014, forcing the internationally recognized government into exile.
The parade took place in Al Sabeen Square in central Sanaa, where participants dressed in uniforms, carried weapons, and waved flags of Yemen and Palestine. The Houthis now control much of northern Yemen, including Sanaa and the Red Sea port of Hodeidah, while the internationally recognized government controls the southern and eastern regions, with Aden serving as the temporary capital.
The decadelong war has had devastating consequences for Yemen. By the end of 2021, the United Nations estimated that the conflict had caused 377,000 deaths, both directly and indirectly. The UN also declared the crisis in Yemen as the largest humanitarian emergency in the world, with 21.6 million people—two-thirds of the population—relying on humanitarian aid.
Despite numerous international efforts, peace in Yemen remains elusive. A cease-fire agreement reached in April 2022 lasted six months, but both sides have largely adhered to a “de facto cease-fire” since its expiration.
