Why did the UK and the US declare war on Yemen?

When trying to understand conflict zones in the Islamic world, sectarian evaluations often take precedence. This is also true for Yemen. Consequently, when explaining both the internal Yemeni civil war and Saudi Arabia's attacks on this country, assessments are often made with a focus on sectarian conflicts. For example, evaluations based on the similarity between the Houthis and Shia fall into this category. While the significance of sectarian differences in the tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran seems apparent, it is essential to acknowledge that this alone may not be determinative.

To comprehend the havoc caused by the UK, the US, and Israel in the Islamic world, one must consider 19th-century colonialism. This is as crucial as sectarian evaluations. Misleading notions like looking at ourselves instead of attributing blame to others hinder the understanding of many events. Understanding that Aden was the sole colony of Britain in the Arabian Peninsula, we can better grasp the interest of the UK and the US in this country. The fact that Saudi Arabia supports the former British colonies and protectorates against the Houthis today indicates that the attacks by the US and the UK are not coincidental. Understanding this continuity will answer some questions.

According to information from various sources, Queen Elizabeth II visited Aden in 1954, which was a British colony. "The city located at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula was a colony of the British Empire at that time and one of its busiest and most important ports."

Aden was the only Arabian region colonized by the British. In other regions in the Middle East under British domination, such as Egypt, Palestine, and the Persian Gulf, mandate or protectorate regimes were applied. We can consider the mandate and protectorate regimes that emerged in the 20th century as a continuation of colonial rule. For example, the British mandate regime was implemented in Palestine, and Israel emerged under this regime.

Aden was first occupied by the British in 1839 during the period when Ottoman armies were at war with the British Empire. England took the surrounding regions of South Yemen under protection. While Aden and its surroundings were directly colonies, a protectorate regime was applied to a significant part of South Yemen. The separation in Yemen emerged in this way, with Ottoman rule continuing in North Yemen for a while.

When the historical division between the north and south of Yemen is made invisible, problems become inevitably evaluated through sectarian divisions. Understanding today's division without considering the traces of British colonial heritage will complicate the comprehension of events.

"Aden was officially declared a Royal Colony in 1937. The city, located just outside the Red Sea, was a vital fuel supply point and a commercial port, especially for the British Indian colony."

In the 1950s and 60s, Arab nationalism rose through anti-colonialism. Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser supported the uprising in Yemen. After years of conflict, the British were finally forced to withdraw. "When the last group of British troops left Aden in late November 1967, the People's Republic of South Yemen, with its capital Aden, was born.

Today, when tracing the traces of the past in conflict zones in the Islamic world, we need to adopt a new perspective. We must consider the colonial era's legacy in Egypt, Sudan, Yemen, Palestine, Iraq, and Syria, at least as important as sectarian differences. This can help us put events in their proper context. Crises are occurring in almost all regions where Britain was dominant in the past.

Our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, previously mentioned the return of geopolitics. This certainly implies a return to the past. We can find traces of the colonial era in almost all of our region's troubled areas. This is also important in terms of understanding sectarian and group differences. It is evident that the UK and the US, along with Israel, are pursuing a new policy towards the Islamic world. We can say that they aim to regain dominance in all strategic regions. The return of geopolitics implies precisely this. There will be a fierce struggle for dominance over strategic regions.