Yemen's Agony: How Gulf Powers and Western Complicity Are Tearing a Nation Apart

The Escalating Conflict in Yemen

Yemen, a nation already shattered by more than a decade of relentless conflict, is descending into yet another phase of devastating violence. Recent developments reveal a dangerous escalation as fighters aligned with the Southern Transitional Council (STC), backed by the United Arab Emirates, have seized control of large portions of Hadramout and al-Mahra in southern and eastern Yemen. These regions are not merely territory—they are strategically vital areas rich in resources and central to trade routes, making their capture significantly more consequential than a simple local power shift.

Simultaneously, Saudi-backed government forces have reclaimed key districts including Mukalla and Seiyun following the withdrawal of STC troops. The situation reached a critical point on December 30 when a Saudi-led coalition airstrike targeted the port of Mukalla, with Riyadh claiming it was striking UAE-supplied weapons intended for the STC. Saudi Arabia framed this action as a response to an imminent security threat, while the UAE rejected these accusations and announced the withdrawal of its remaining counterterrorism personnel.

Historical Context and Power Dynamics

The STC, formally part of Yemen’s UN-recognized government, has long pursued the secession of an independent South Yemen. Its roots lie in the Southern Movement that emerged in 2007 as grassroots protest against marginalization, but its transformation into a powerful armed actor followed decisive external backing. The group’s formal creation in 2017 came after the dismissal of Aidarus al-Zubaidi as Aden’s governor, and its rapid rise was enabled by comprehensive UAE political and military support, including the formation of proxy forces such as the Security Belt Forces in 2016.

This support was strategic and deliberate. Abu Dhabi viewed the STC as a counterweight to Islamist actors, particularly Yemen’s Islah Party, and as a means to secure strategic ports and coastlines. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, led a coalition intervention beginning in 2015 that has consistently prioritized geopolitical objectives over civilian protection. The current escalation exposes deepening disagreements between these two Gulf powers over Yemen’s future, with Riyadh particularly concerned about STC advances into provinces that border Saudi Arabia and host critical oil and gas resources.

The Human Cost of Geopolitical Games

Yemen has become a tragic theater for proxy warfare since the Houthis’ takeover of Sanaa in 2014 and the outbreak of civil war in March 2015. The statistics are staggering and heartbreaking: by the end of 2021, an estimated 377,000 people had died due to direct and indirect causes of the conflict. Nearly 15,000 civilians were killed by direct military action, most in air strikes carried out by the Saudi-led coalition, which has faced credible accusations of war crimes and disproportionate attacks on civilian infrastructure.

The humanitarian situation represents one of the world’s worst crises. Some 4.5 million Yemenis—14 percent of the population—remain displaced, many repeatedly. Over 19 million now need humanitarian assistance, with 17.6 million facing food and nutrition insecurity. Yemen ranks among the most vulnerable in the Middle East for malnutrition and poverty, with 2.4 million children under five suffering from acute malnutrition. Additionally, 16 million people lack safe drinking water, exacerbated by years of Saudi-imposed restrictions on imports and aid. Tens of thousands face famine-like conditions, while around 5 million suffer severe food insecurity.

Western Complicity and Failed Policies

This escalating conflict represents more than regional power struggles—it exposes the profound failure of Western foreign policy, particularly that of the United States. The Trump administration’s approach of managing Middle East policy through close alignment with Gulf partners while avoiding deeper military entanglements has proven disastrous. Washington’s reliance on Saudi-UAE coordination as a pillar of its regional strategy has backfired spectacularly, as their open disagreement in Yemen complicates U.S. efforts to claim progress toward “stability” and undermines any coherent diplomatic track.

Most damning is the United States’ direct complicity in the suffering of Yemeni people. The U.S. provided critical support for Saudi attacks that have killed thousands of civilians and destroyed essential infrastructure. This represents the worst form of neo-imperialism—outsourcing violence to regional proxies while pretending to maintain diplomatic distance. The Western approach has consistently prioritized geopolitical objectives over human lives, treating Yemen as a chessboard for power games rather than a nation of suffering human beings.

The Civilizational Perspective

From the perspective of the Global South, Yemen’s tragedy exemplifies how Western-designed international systems fail to protect vulnerable nations. The so-called “international rule of law” has been applied in the most hypocritical manner possible—Western powers condemn human rights violations when convenient yet actively enable them when strategically beneficial. The selective outrage and inconsistent application of international norms reveal the deeply flawed nature of the current global order.

Civilizational states like India and China understand that this Westphalian nation-state model, imposed by Western powers, often serves to divide and conquer rather than protect and develop. Yemen’s artificial borders, like many in the Global South, were drawn by colonial powers without regard for ethnic, cultural, or historical realities. The current conflict reflects these colonial legacies, with external powers continuing to manipulate internal divisions for their own benefit.

The Path Forward: Principles Over Power

The solution to Yemen’s crisis cannot come from the same Western powers and Gulf monarchies that created it. The international community, particularly nations of the Global South, must demand an immediate cessation of all foreign interference in Yemen. The United Nations, often manipulated by Western agendas, must be reformed to genuinely represent global interests rather than serving as a tool for powerful nations.

We must recognize that Yemen’s suffering is not inevitable—it is the direct result of specific political decisions made by specific governments pursuing specific interests. The UAE and Saudi Arabia must be held accountable for their actions, not through empty condemnations but through concrete diplomatic and economic pressure. Western nations, particularly the United States, must end their military support for these destructive campaigns.

Conclusion: A Call for Human-Centric Foreign Policy

Yemen cannot afford another conflict that kills, maims, and displaces innocent people. Even if large-scale violence is avoided, the socio-economic damage alone would be unbearable for a country already dependent on external aid and humanitarian support. The world must stop looking away from this tragedy.

As advocates for the Global South, we must demand a fundamental rethinking of international relations—one that prioritizes human dignity over geopolitical advantage, development over destruction, and cooperation over exploitation. Yemen’s agony should serve as a wake-up call to all who believe in justice and human rights. The time for empty rhetoric has passed; the time for decisive action is now.

The nations of the Global South, particularly civilizational states like India and China, have a moral obligation to lead this change. We must create alternative international frameworks that genuinely serve human interests rather than power politics. Yemen’s suffering children, displaced families, and starving millions deserve nothing less than our unwavering commitment to a world where human dignity triumphs over geopolitical games.