A Closer Look At Yemen's Civil War

09:55

October 21, 2015

Fighters loyal to Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi drive a tank in the area of the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, in the southern Yemeni province of Taez, on October 1, 2015. Pro-Hadi forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition, seized Bab al-Mandab and Dhubab in Taez province near the strait at the entrance to the Red Sea, from Shiite Huthi rebels, loyalist military official Abedrabbo al-Mihwali told AFP. (Saleh al-Obeidi/AFP/Getty Images)

Peace talks are due to take place this month between Yemen's government in exile - which is stationed for the moment in Saudi Arabia - and the Shiite rebels, called Houthis, who now control much of the country after a civil war broke out in March.

The war has already killed more than 2,300 civilians and has drawn regional players into the fight. Coalition forces, led by Saudi Arabia and backed by the U.S., have been trying to force out Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran. Those rebels forced President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi from office earlier this year.

Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson speaks with writer Gregory Johnsen and Doctors Without Borders coordinator Karline Kleijer, about the war in Yemen and the humanitarian situation on the ground.

Guests

Gregory Johnsen, author of "The Last Refuge: Yemen Al-Qaeda and America's War in Arabia" He tweets <a href="//twitter.com/gregorydjohnsen@gregorydjohnsen.
Karline Kleijer, emergency coordinator in Yemen for Doctors Without Borders (MSF). She tweets @KarlineKleijer.

This segment aired on October 21, 2015.