There is no war, there is no peace": What is happening in Yemen and who will seize the Strait of Bab al-Mandab? Mizrahi Olga Bentsarova historical, economic, political, inter-religious and military interests of the two countries of the Middle East and Europe were intertwined in Yemen. Yemen not only has an extensive border with Saudi Arabia, but also close political relations. Throughout the 20th century, events in one country directly affected another. The 1933-1934 war over the border areas ended with the demarcation of the borders. But these borders have not yet been officially confirmed. Since 2011, Yemen has lived in a state of "no war, no peace": the fighting between the pro-coalition forces and the Houthis either subsides or flares up again. At the same time, the Yemeni tribes themselves are a very heterogeneous structure with their own elites and a struggle for power, which led to the "Arab Spring" events of 2011-2012. The south of the country was periodically exposed to a strong western influence. For example, the Ottoman Empire conquered it twice in the 16th and 19th centuries. - but both times it came at too high a price for the Turkish authorities. The British protectorate of Aden existed from 1872 to 1963, but had to reckon with its neighbor to the north, the Mutawakil Kingdom of Yemen. British rule ended in the civil war in the north. And after 1990, South Yemen united with North Yemen to form the Republic of Yemen, which officially still exists. Most of the residents of the south are Sunni. North Yemen has always been more closed, including due to its geographical location. Most of the country is areas at the foot of hills and mountains, which are very inaccessible. Therefore, the North developed its own unique culture. Any attempt to subdue the northern lands was met with fierce resistance. Both the Turks and the British faced it. In the north it is customary not to accept the authority of anyone, not even the imam. Most of the inhabitants of the north are Shiites. Their paramilitary groups are called the Houthis.

There is no war, there is no peace": What is happening in Yemen and who will seize the Strait of Bab al-Mandab? Mizrahi Olga Bentsarova historical, economic, political, inter-religious and military interests of the two countries of the Middle East and Europe were intertwined in Yemen. Yemen not only has an extensive border with Saudi Arabia, but also close political relations. Throughout the 20th century, events in one country directly affected another. The 1933-1934 war over the border areas ended with the demarcation of the borders. But these borders have not yet been officially confirmed. Since 2011, Yemen has lived in a state of "no war, no peace": the fighting between the pro-coalition forces and the Houthis either subsides or flares up again. At the same time, the Yemeni tribes themselves are a very heterogeneous structure with their own elites and a struggle for power, which led to the "Arab Spring" events of 2011-2012. The south of the country was periodically exposed to a strong western influence. For example, the Ottoman Empire conquered it twice in the 16th and 19th centuries. - but both times it came at too high a price for the Turkish authorities. The British protectorate of Aden existed from 1872 to 1963, but had to reckon with its neighbor to the north, the Mutawakil Kingdom of Yemen. British rule ended in the civil war in the north. And after 1990, South Yemen united with North Yemen to form the Republic of Yemen, which officially still exists. Most of the residents of the south are Sunni. North Yemen has always been more closed, including due to its geographical location. Most of the country is areas at the foot of hills and mountains, which are very inaccessible. Therefore, the North developed its own unique culture. Any attempt to subdue the northern lands was met with fierce resistance. Both the Turks and the British faced it. In the north it is customary not to accept the authority of anyone, not even the imam. Most of the inhabitants of the north are Shiites. Their paramilitary groups are called the Houthis.