The end of the Geneva peace talks has given way to another round of Saudi airstrikes against northern Yemen this weekend, in which at least 15 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded. Though exact splits were unavailable, a large number of civilians were among the slain.
This included at least five women and two children killed in strikes against Saada and Maarib. Saudi Arabia has in particular been targeting Saada, the Houthis’ historic homeland, in the nearly three-month long war.
The Saudis are demanding that the Houthis surrender the country back to the former Hadi government, which resigned in January amid disputes over the terms of a democratic transition of power in the country. The US has backed the Saudi war with air support, and participated at times in the naval blockade of Yemen.
After months of war, however, the airstrikes haven’t left the Houthis with any less control over the country, and have only managed to create a bigger humanitarian calamity in the Arabian Peninsula’s poorest nation, while allowing Islamist factions like ISIS and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) to expand their influence in tribal areas.