Describe the civil wars in Syria and Yemen. How are they similar? How are they different?
The civil wars in Syria and Yemen are two separate, but equally devastating conflicts that have caused immense human suffering, large-scale loss of lives, and widespread destruction in both countries.
Syria:
The Syrian civil war began in 2011 following peaceful protests against President Bashar al-Assad's government. The protests were met with a brutal government crackdown, which led to a violent and protracted conflict involving a myriad of factions, including opposition forces, extremist groups, and regional and international powers.
Key elements of the Syrian civil war include:
1. Multiple actors: The conflict involves various forces, including the Syrian government supported by Russia and Iran, opposition groups backed by the US, Turkey, and Gulf countries, Islamic extremist groups like ISIS, and the Kurdish forces, who are primarily focused on securing their autonomy in northern Syria.
2. International involvement: As a result of sectarian, strategic, and geopolitical interests, international actors like the US, Russia, Turkey, Iran, and Saudi Arabia have played a significant role by providing military, financial, and logistical support to their respective allies in the conflict.
3. Massive refugee crisis: The civil war has forced millions of Syrians to flee their homes, with over six million internally displaced and over five million refugees seeking safety in neighboring countries, creating one of the worst humanitarian crises since World War II.
Yemen:
The Yemeni civil war began in 2014 when Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthi movement, took control of the Yemeni capital of Sana’a, prompting the internationally recognized government, led by President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, to call for international assistance. In response, a Saudi-UAE-led Arab coalition intervened in 2015 with the aim of restoring the Hadi government.
Key aspects of the Yemeni civil war include:
1. Proxy conflict: The war in Yemen has acquired a distinct character of a proxy conflict between regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia. Iran supports the Houthis, while Saudi Arabia leads the Arab coalition supporting the Hadi government.
2. Humanitarian crisis: The conflict in Yemen has left about 24 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and nearly 4 million displaced. The country is also facing the world's worst food security crisis, with millions of Yemenis at risk of famine.
3. Fragmented conflict: Yemen's war has various factions, including the internationally recognized government, the Houthi rebels, southern separatist groups, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), and ISIS affiliates.
Similarities:
1. Both conflicts have regional and international dimensions, with various actors pursuing their political, military, and ideological objectives in both cases.
2. Humanitarian crises are prominent in both conflicts, characterized by massive displacements of people, widespread food insecurity, and large-scale loss of lives.
3. Both conflicts are protracted, with no clear path to a sustainable and inclusive political settlement.
Differences:
1. The Syrian conflict showcases clearer sectarian undertones, with the majority Sunni population rallying against the minority Alawite-led government, while the Yemeni conflict revolves more around political grievances and power dynamics.
2. The international involvement in the Syrian civil war is more diverse, with major powers such as the US, Russia, Turkey, and Iran playing significant roles in addition to regional actors. In Yemen, the proxy conflict is more concentrated between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
3. While both conflicts involve extremist groups, ISIS played a more significant role in the Syrian conflict, with the group capturing vast territories unique to Syria and Iraq. In Yemen, AQAP and ISIS-affiliated groups are relatively minor players in the larger conflict.