Introduction

This introductory chapter provides an overview of Yemen. Centuries of history have demonstrated that under the right leadership, Yemen could transform into a regional power and an epicenter for global trade as it did during the ancient Sabean Kingdom when the world looked to Yemen for its supply of frankincense. History has also shown that without central leadership, South Arabia will be overrun by regional powers looking to control this vital waterway and secure an important asset for global trade. The arrival of the Arab Spring protests in Yemen in 2011 precipitated the downfall of Ali Abdullah Saleh, who had been Yemen's president for 33 years and whose administration was most responsible for the declining state of Yemen's economy, politics, and social infrastructure. True to its historical form, Yemen has since been overrun by regional power rivalries: Iran has emerged as a supporter of the Houthi movement while Saudi Arabia, Yemen's neighbor to the north, has organized an extensive military operation and blockade to defend the country's deposed republican government.