The Yemen War: Addressing Seven Misconceptions

The document argues that the Yemen War has evolved from a binary conflict into a complex, multi-faceted struggle involving numerous internal splinter groups and external state actors beyond just Iran and Saudi Arabia. It highlights the fragmentation of southern independence movements, the unreliability of humanitarian data due to lack of access, and the marginalization of women and youth in peace processes. The authors recommend a multi-track, inclusive peacebuilding strategy that increases transparency in aid and integrates women and youth into negotiations.

• The conflict in Yemen is not a simple proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia; it involves multiple external actors with independent agendas, including Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While Iran supports the Houthis and Saudi Arabia supports the government of Yemen (GoY), Qatar supports Islah, and the UAE sponsors the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and Joint Forces.
• The war is characterized by fluid and opportunistic alliances among non-monolithic actors. Beyond the GoY and Houthis, the conflict involves Salafi militant groups and local militias, such as the STC, which has shifted from fighting alongside the Yemeni military to engaging in armed clashes with them in governorates like Aden, Abyan, and Shabwa.
• Secession for South Yemen is hindered by internal fragmentation and a lack of consensus. The STC is not the sole representative of southern aspirations, as groups like the Hadramawt Conference and the Southern National Coalition have not endorsed it. Polling indicates that only 37% of Southerners support the STC, while 46% support secession.
• Humanitarian data in Yemen is often unreliable due to limited access to Houthi-held Northern governorates and the weaponization of aid. The document notes a conflict of interest where the UAE and Saudi Arabia act as both active conflict parties and the largest aid donors.
• Women are significantly underrepresented in formal peace processes despite existing quotas. For example, the Stockholm Consultations included only one woman among 24 participants, failing to meet the 30% quota set by the 2014 National Dialogue Conference and UNSC 1325.

APA

Palik, J., & Jalal, I. (2020). The Yemen War: Addressing Seven Misconceptions. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/a71a9115-607d-42a5-b6e6-02e5f25f436b/Palik and Jalal - The Yemen War Addressing Seven Misconceptions MidEast Policy Brief 01-2020.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Palik, Júlia, and Ibrahim Jalal. The Yemen War: Addressing Seven Misconceptions. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2020. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/a71a9115-607d-42a5-b6e6-02e5f25f436b/Palik and Jalal - The Yemen War Addressing Seven Misconceptions MidEast Policy Brief 01-2020.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Palik |first1=Júlia |last2=Jalal |first2=Ibrahim |title=The Yemen War: Addressing Seven Misconceptions |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=January 2020 |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/a71a9115-607d-42a5-b6e6-02e5f25f436b/Palik and Jalal - The Yemen War Addressing Seven Misconceptions MidEast Policy Brief 01-2020.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{palik2020yemen, author = {Palik, Júlia and Jalal, Ibrahim}, title = {{The Yemen War: Addressing Seven Misconceptions}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2020}, month = jan, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/a71a9115-607d-42a5-b6e6-02e5f25f436b/Palik and Jalal - The Yemen War Addressing Seven Misconceptions MidEast Policy Brief 01-2020.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }