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Iran, Saudi Arabia jockey for power in Yemen

Yemen has become a stage for the conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia on religious, economic, political and military levels.
Shi'ite Houthi rebels ride a patrol truck in Yareem town of Yemen's central province of Ibb October 22, 2014. Houthi fighters clashed with supporters of the Sunni Muslim Islah party in Yareem, earlier this week, residents and local officials said, raising the spectre of a wider sectarian confrontation in the country, which shares a long border with the world's top oil exporter, Saudi Arabia. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah (YEMEN - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTR4B6F7
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One can only approach the situation in Yemen by understanding the stakes and objectives of the parties involved, as well as by looking at the latest changes in the country as part of the chaotic political and military developments of the region. Based on local and regional factors, one can understand the complicated Yemeni situation without attempting to explain the political events in Yemen through the sectarian vision.

The political map in Yemen changed following the youth revolution in February 2011. Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who ruled Yemen for 33 years until February 2012, was forced to leave office in the framework of the Gulf Initiative, which was seen as a Saudi initiative on a wider scale since the Saudi crown prince was present when the Yemeni parties signed it.

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