Intervention and Exploitation: US and UK Government International Actions Since 1945


Yemen


1839:

Aden: British seize Aden to satisfy need for coaling station between Egypt and India.....port administered as part of India. [4]

1918:

North Yemen: Ottoman empire dissolves, North Yemen gains independence and is ruled by Imam Yahya. [1]

1948:

North Yemen: Yahya assassinated, but his son Ahmad beats off opponents of feudal rule and succeeds his father. [1]

1954:

Aden: British Petroleum constructs refinery at Little Aden. [4]

1956:

Aden: SAS men were reportedly sent to Aden at the beginning of local opposition to British rule there. [3]

1958:

North Yemen: Pro Nasarist sentiments lead to loose federation with Egypt and Syria. [4]

1959:

Aden: Federation of Arab Amirates of the South created as an autonomous territory under British protection. [4]

1962:

North Yemen: Imam Ahmad dies, succeeded by his son but army officers seize power, set up the Yemen Arab Republic (YAR), sparking civil war between royalists supported by Saudi Arabia and republicans backed by Egypt. [1]

North Yemen: MI6 and SAS begin covert operation in North Yemen that eventually involves providing arms, funding and logistical support to royalist rebels in dirty war against pro-Egyptian republican forces. In this the Britsh government colludes with Israel's Mossad and the Saudi regime. Around 200,000 die in the war. [2] [5]

North Yemen: MI6 work with tribesmen recruited locally to 'direct the planting of bombs' at Egyptian military outposts while garrison towns are 'shot up' and political figures murdered. The RAF also conducts some secret bombings against Egyptian targets. The British government decides there can be no official SAS involvement, but authorises it to organise a mercenary operation that eventually involves dozens of ex-SAS servicemen. MI6 provides intelligence and logistical support to the rebels and GCHQ pinpoints the locations of republican troops. While Whitehall denies official involvement, the secret funds provided to the operation are earmarked to the overseas aid programme. [2]

1963:

Aden: Aden joins the federation...name changed to Federation of South Arabia...National Liberation Front (NLF) declares lead in struggle against British rule. [4]

Aden: Britain rejects a UN call for it to withdraw from Aden and permit self-determination. [2]

1964-1967:

Aden: Britain trys to counter the liberation movement in Aden. The SAS set up plain clothes hit squads to make arrests and engage in shoot outs with political opponents. Attacking the civilian population, RAF bombing destroys rebel villages and crops, causing tens of thousands of people to flee. [2]

Aden: An official British investigation in 1971 observes that the British army had engaged in torture of detainees. The Red Cross and Amnesty International were refused permission to interview detainees in one notorious prison. [2]

1967:

South Yemen (Aden): Formation of southern Yemen, comprising Aden and former Protectorate of South Arabia. Country is later officially known as the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY). Programme of nationalisation begins. [1]

1970:

North Yemen: In North Yemen the rebels, backed by the British, having failed to dislodge the government sign a treaty ending the war. [2]

1971:

South Yemen: Thousands flee to north following crackdown on dissidents. Armed groups formed in bid to overthrow government. [1]

1972:

North and South Yemen: Border clashes between YAR and PDRY, ceasefire brokered by Arab League. [1]

1978:

North Yemen: Ali Abdallah Saleh named as president of YAR. [1]

1979:

North and South Yemen: Fresh fighting between YAR and PDRY. Renewed efforts to unite the two states. [1]

1982:

North Yemen: Earth quake kills 3,000. [1]

1986:

South Yemen: Thousands die in south in political rivalry. President Ali Nasser Muhammad flees the country and is later sentenced to death for treason. New government formed. [1]

1990:

North and South Yemen: Unified Republic of Yemen proclaimed, with Saleh as president. [1]

Yemen, along with Cuba, are the only nations to oppose USA's UN motions against Iraq, aimed at getting "authorisation" to wage war against Iraq for invading Kuwait. Days after voting against the key use of force resolution of November 29th, Yemen suffers a sharp reduction in US aid. [6]

1991:

Yemen opposes US-led action against Iraq in Gulf War. [1]

1992:

Food price riots in major towns. [1]

1993:

April - Coalition government formed, made up of ruling parties of former north and south. [1]

August - Vice-President Ali Salim al-Baid withdraws to Aden, alleging that south is being marginalised and that southerners are being attacked by northerners. [1]

1994:

Armies of former north and south, which have failed to integrate, gather on former frontier as relations between southern and northern leaders deteriorate. [1]

May - Saleh declares state of emergency and dismisses al-Baid and other southern government members following political deadlock and sporadic fighting. Foreigners flee escalating fighting. [1]

May 21- Al-Baid declares independence of Democratic Republic of Yemen. Saleh rejects secession as illegal. [1]

July - Northern forces take control of Aden, secessionist leaders flee abroad and are sentenced to death in absentia. [1]

1995:

Yemen, Eritrea clash over disputed island territory. [1]

2000:

October - US naval vessel USS Cole damaged in suicide attack in Aden which is subsequently blamed on al-Qaeda. Seventeen US personnel killed. [1]

Bomb explodes at British embassy. Four Yemenis who are jailed say they carried out attack in solidarity with Palestinians. [1]

2001:

February - Violence in run-up to municipal polls and referendum, in which voters show support for constitutional reform extending presidential term and powers. [1]

November - President Saleh visits US, tells President Bush that Yemen is a partner in the fight against terrorism. [1]

2002:

February - Yemen expels more than 100 foreign Islamic scholars, including British and French nationals, in crackdown on terror and suspected al-Qaeda members. [1]

October - Supertanker Limburg badly damaged in attack, blamed on al-Qaeda, off Yemeni coast. [1]

2003:

April - The 10 chief suspects in the bombing of the USS Cole escape from custody in Aden. [1]

2004:

March - Two militants, suspected of masterminding bombing of USS Cole, are re-arrested. [1]

June-August - Government troops battle supporters of dissident cleric Hussein al-Houthi in the north; estimates of the dead range from 80 to more than 600. [1]

August - Court sentences 15 men on terror charges, including bombing of Limburg tanker in 2002. [1]

September - Government says its forces have killed dissident cleric Hussein al-Houthi, the leader of a revolt in the north. [1]

2005:

March-April - More than 200 people are killed in a resurgence of fighting between government forces and supporters of the slain rebel cleric Hussein al-Houthi. [1]

May - President Saleh says the leader of the rebellion in the north has agreed to renounce the campaign in return for a pardon. Minor clashes continue. [1]

2006:

March - More than 600 followers of slain Shia cleric Hussein al-Houthi who were captured following a rebellion he led in 2004 are released under an amnesty. [1]