The Houthis’ Next Move – and the Next Stage of the Yemen War
OPINION — The Houthis have launched attacks on Israel and international shipping over the past nine months as a means rather than an end. For […] More
Yemen
Exclusive Interview: Former Navy Commander on How To Stop the Houthis
SUBSCRIBER+ INTERVIEW — Almost from the first volley fired last fall by Houthi rebels at vessels in the Red Sea, the group has surprised observers […] More
The Houthi Regime is an Integrated Propaganda Machine
OPINION — In the first three years after the Houthis’ 2014 takeover of Yemen’s capital, the de facto government in Sanaa was staffed by a […] More
Pinprick attacks on Houthi positions won’t solve the bigger problem
OPINION / EXPERT PERSPECTIVE — It took two months of escalating attacks on commercial ships for the U.S. military to respond aggressively to the most […] More
The Latest
Keep an Eye in the Sky for U.S. Missile Defense
OPINION — “We’ve looked extensively at the Ukraine conflict and I can tell you, the use of drones and how we’re seeing drones being utilized […] More
Can Riyadh Leverage Failed Negotiations?
OPINION — Two months ago, the Saudis took unprecedented public steps to show the Houthis (and the world) they were serious about ending their involvement in the […] More
Saudi Arabia’s Disengagement from Yemen Will Be Messy
OPINION — The logic behind Saudi Arabia’s latest diplomatic maneuver was clear. Riyadh faced a major threat from the Iran-led axis, and when the U.S. […] More
US Approach toward Yemen Needs More Work
Mark D. Wallace is CEO of United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) and the former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations for Management and Reform. Cipher […] More
Where Are Six Years of War in Yemen Going?
EXPERT ANALYSIS — At a time when western officials are focusing their attention toward national security threats posed by China, the war in Yemen is […] More
COVID and Navigating the New Middle East Challenges
The global pandemic caused by COVID-19 has added a significant layer of uncertainty to an already complicated situation in the Middle East. The Cipher Brief […] More
Instability in Southern Yemen Exposes Rift Between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi
Bottom Line Up Front In late April, Emirati-supported separatists in southern Yemen declared self-administration, demonstrating further strains in the Saudi Coalition and a growing […] More
OSINT Global Trendline Report: The Middle East and Africa
The Cipher Brief’s Open Source Trend Line Report utilizes open source data on a quarterly basis to track trends around the world that impact national and global […] More
Saudi Arabia Declares Yemen Cease-Fire Amidst Growing Domestic Issues
Bottom Line Up Front Saudi Arabia announced a unilateral cease-fire in Yemen amidst growing concerns over the spreading coronavirus pandemic. Saudi Arabia’s scorched earth […] More
United States Targets Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula Leader in Yemen
Bottom Line Up Front U.S. officials have expressed confidence that a series of drone strikes in Yemen in January was successful in killing Qassim […] More
Is the Maximum Pressure Campaign Working with Iran?
As the U.S. continues to announce new sanctions aimed at Iran, there are some signs that indicate the U.S. policy of applying maximum pressure on […] More
Tensions with Iran Resurface
Bottom Line Up Front U.S.-Iran tensions are escalating again after three months of relative stability. U.S. officials report that Iran is resupplying its allies […] More
Are There Still ‘Red Lines’ in the Middle East?
Bottom Line Up Front The September 14 strike on Saudi critical energy infrastructure by Iran or one of its allies directly challenges U.S. regional […] More
The Use of Drones in Unconventional Warfare
Bottom Line Up Front Drones have become a trusted tool in the arsenal of non-state actors seeking to engage in asymmetric attacks against a […] More
Stalemate and Suffering in Yemen
Bottom Line Up Front To date, despite years of reported war crimes by nearly all sides involved in the Yemen conflict, there has been […] More