On the eve of the fourth year of unrest and instability in the Middle East, Yemen is on the verge of its own abyss. Elite power struggles, sectarian rebellions, tribal clashes, growing separatism, and Islamic fundamentalist terrorism have converged to create a chaotic reality in which alliances form and dissolve at a feverish pace. The intensification of the Houthi rebellion in recent months has heightened the sectarian dimension of the country's internal clash. Thus while the eyes of the international community remain focused on the struggle against ISIS, a challenge with local and international implications continues to intensify in Yemen. The primary concern has to do with the possible collapse of the Yemeni state, which is located close to the Persian Gulf oil producers and major shipping routes, and the ensuing ramifications that will transcend Yemen’s borders.
