What role will Moscow assume in Yemen's civil war?
Russia is expanding its reputation as a mediator in various conflicts and could wield its influence in Yemen to bring both sides to the negotiating table.
![RUSSIA-YEMEN/ Yemeni Foreign Minister Abdel-Malek al-Mekhlafi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrive for a joint news conference following their meeting in Moscow, Russia January 22, 2018. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov - UP1EE1M0TSQ8N](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2018/01/RTX4HK5I.jpg/RTX4HK5I.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=tMZBCTDl)
As separatists surrounded Yemen's de facto capital of Aden on Jan. 30, speculation grew about whether Russia would pick a side in the conflict or, in a more likely scenario, offer to intercede as a mediator.
Just a week before, Abdul-Malik al-Mekhlafi — who is both the Yemeni deputy prime minister and foreign minister — traveled to Moscow seeking Russian influence to stop Iran from supporting the Houthi rebels and interfering in Yemeni domestic affairs.