Battle of Sana'a (2014)

Battle of Sana'a
Part of the Yemeni Crisis and Sa'dah War
Old City of Sana'a
Date 16–21 September 2014 (5 days) Location Sana'a, Yemen Result Decisive Houthis victory Fall of Sana'a Prime Minister Basindawa resigns General al-Ahmar flees Yemen Power-sharing deal negotiated
Belligerents
Houthis	Government of Yemen Security Forces People's Committees Al-Islah militias
Commanders and leaders
Abdul-Malik al-Houthi Mohammed Ali al-Houthi Mohammed Abdul Salam	Abdrabbuh Hadi Mohammed Basindawa Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar
Casualties and losses
100+ killed	Unknown
274–340 killed overall

Decisive Houthis victory

Government of Yemen

The Battle of Sana'a in 2014 marked the advance of the Houthis into Sana'a, the capital of Yemen, and heralded the beginning of the armed takeover of the government that unfolded over the following months. Fighting began on 9 September 2014, when Shia protesters under the command of Abdul-Malik al-Houthi marched on the cabinet office and were fired upon by security forces, leaving seven dead. The clashes escalated on 18 September, when 40 were killed in an armed confrontation between the Houthis led by military commander Mohammed Ali al-Houthi and supporters of the Sunni hardliner Islah Party when the Houthis tried to seize Yemen TV, and 19 September, with more than 60 killed in clashes between Houthi fighters and the military and police in northern Sana'a. By 21 September, the Houthis captured the government headquarters, marking the fall of Sana'a.

Zaydi Muslims loyal to Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, a powerful tribal leader from the northern Saada Governorate, participated in the Yemeni Revolution in 2011 and 2012. However, the Houthis also clashed with Islamists from Yemen's Islah party, with sporadic and sometimes intense fighting in the northern village of Dammaj, as well as several neighboring governorates. In January 2014, the Yemeni government began evacuating Wahhabi residents from Saada Governorate, handing victory in the region to the Houthis. The Houthi insurgents pressed their advantage, seizing control of 'Amran in a bloody battle with Islah Party-aligned jihadists loyal to General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar and entering the Sana'a Governorate by July.

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