History of Yemen in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 17, 2026

Yemen is a nation located on the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, boasting a rich history as an ancient center of trade and civilization. Historically known as 'Arabia Felix,' it is home to UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Old City of Sana'a. However, in recent decades, the country has faced severe instability. Since 2014, Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating civil war involving the internationally recognized government and Houthi rebels, exacerbated by regional proxy conflicts. This ongoing struggle has resulted in one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, characterized by widespread famine, internal displacement, and the collapse of essential infrastructure and healthcare systems. Despite its cultural depth and strategic location near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital shipping lane, Yemen continues to navigate profound political, economic, and security challenges as it struggles to achieve lasting peace and recovery.

1904: Zaydi Rebellion against Ottoman Rule

In 1904, Imam Yahya Hamidaddin initiated a major rebellion against Ottoman authorities, significantly disrupting their governance and weakening their military control over the region.

1911: Consolidation of Power in Northern Highlands

In 1911, Imam Yahya hamid ed-Din al-Mutawakkil began his independent rule over the northern highlands of Yemen, marking the start of his campaign to unify the Yemeni territories.

1911: Treaty of 1911

The Ottoman Empire signed a treaty in 1911 with Imam Yahya Hamidaddin, which officially recognized him as the autonomous leader of the Zaydi northern highlands, ending the period of intense revolts that began in 1904.

1918: End of Ottoman Presence in Yemen

Following their previous loss of authority in the northern highlands, the Ottomans finally concluded their administration of the Shafi'i areas in the mid-south and departed Yemen in 1918.

1925: Capture of al-Hudaydah

During his conquest of Yemeni lands in 1925, Imam Yahya successfully captured the city of al-Hudaydah from the control of the Idrisids.

1926: Italian Recognition of Imam Yahya

In 1926, the Italian Empire became the first international power to formally recognize Imam Yahya as the King of Yemen. This diplomatic move caused significant concern for the British, who feared it validated Yahya's expansive territorial claims over Greater Yemen, including the Aden protectorate and Asir.

1927: British Aerial Bombardment of Yahya's Forces

In 1927, Imam Yahya's forces reached a position 50 km from Aden, Taiz, and Ibb, prompting the British to launch a five-day aerial bombardment campaign that forced the Imam's troops to retreat.

1932: Collapse of the Idrisi-Saudi Accord

In 1932, the Idrisi leadership terminated their agreement with Ibn Saud after he began dismantling their regional authority. Seeking to resist Saudi annexation of their lands, the Idrisis turned to Imam Yahya for support, leading Yahya to formally demand the return of all former Idrisi territories during this 1932 political crisis.

May 1934: Saudi-Yemeni War Ceasefire and Territorial Concessions

In May 1934, following the Saudi-Yemeni war, Ibn Saud declared a ceasefire. As part of the resolution, Imam Yahya agreed to release Saudi hostages, surrender the Idrisis to Saudi authority, and cede the provinces of Najran, Asir, and Jazan for a period of 20 years to avoid the potential loss of Hudaydah.

1943: First signs of resistance to the occupation in Aden

In 1943, following the rise of labor unions and increasing tension between worker sectors in Aden, the first signs of resistance against the occupation began to emerge.

1962: The Death of Imam Ahmad bin Yahya and the Start of the North Yemen Civil War

Following the death of Imam Ahmad bin Yahya in 1962, his son's succession was challenged by army officers, leading to the outbreak of the North Yemen Civil War. This conflict saw the Hamidaddin royalists supported by Saudi Arabia, Britain, Jordan, and covertly by Israel, while the military rebels received significant financial, weaponry, and direct troop support from Egypt.

1962: Establishment of the Yemen Arab Republic

In 1962, following a civil war, the Kingdom of Yemen was dissolved and replaced by the Yemen Arab Republic, commonly known as North Yemen.

January 1964: British Operation Nutcracker in Radfan

In January 1964, British forces conducted a military campaign known as Operation Nutcracker, which resulted in the complete burning of the Radfan region as a counter-insurgency measure against the National Liberation Front.

November 1967: Formation of South Yemen

On 30 November 1967, the independent state of South Yemen was officially established, merging Aden with the former Protectorate of South Arabia. Following this transition, the new socialist government, later designated as the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, initiated a sweeping programme of nationalisation to restructure the country's economy.

1967: Independence of the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen

In 1967, the region known as South Yemen gained independence from the British Aden Protectorate, subsequently becoming the first communist state in the Arab world and the Middle East.

1972: Yemeni War of 1972

In 1972, a military conflict broke out between the North and South Yemeni states, which concluded through a ceasefire and negotiations facilitated by the Arab League, resulting in a formal declaration that the two nations would eventually unify.

1978: Ali Abdullah Saleh Named President

In 1978, Ali Abdullah Saleh assumed the presidency of the Yemen Arab Republic, marking a significant transition in the political leadership of the North.

1979: Resumption of Hostilities and Unification Efforts

In 1979, the two Yemeni states engaged in renewed military conflict, which concurrently sparked fresh diplomatic efforts to achieve national unification.

1986: South Yemen Civil War

The South Yemen Civil War broke out in 1986, resulting in thousands of casualties. Following the conflict, President Ali Nasser Muhammad fled to the north and was subsequently sentenced to death for treason as a new government was established in 1986.

May 1990: Unification of North and South Yemen

On 22 May 1990, North and South Yemen formally merged into a single nation following a comprehensive power-sharing agreement. Ali Abdullah Saleh assumed the role of president, while Ali Salem al-Beidh, the former leader of South Yemen, became the vice president under a newly established unity constitution and parliament.

1990: Yemen's Opposition to Military Intervention

In 1990, following the invasion of Kuwait, Yemen's president publicly opposed the use of military intervention by non-Arab states. During this time, Yemen also held a seat on the United Nations Security Council, where it abstained from several resolutions regarding Iraq and Kuwait and cast a vote against the resolution authorizing the use of force. This diplomatic stance led to significant geopolitical friction, and in 1990, Saudi Arabia began the expulsion of 800,000 Yemeni workers as a retaliatory measure.

1990: Unification of Yemen

In 1990, the North and South Yemeni states formally unified to establish the modern Republic of Yemen.

1991: Diplomatic Consequences and Expulsions

Continuing through 1991, the political fallout from Yemen's 1990 UNSC voting record persisted. As a member of the United Nations Security Council, Yemen maintained its opposition to the military intervention in the Gulf, resulting in strained international relations. Consequently, Saudi Arabia completed the expulsion of 800,000 Yemenis that had begun in 1990, using the mass deportation as a punishment for the Yemeni government's diplomatic defiance.

1992: Food Riots in Yemeni Towns

In 1992, significant food riots erupted in major Yemeni towns, serving as a primary catalyst for political restructuring.

August 1993: Vice President al-Beidh Withdraws to Aden

In August 1993, Vice President al-Beidh retreated to Aden, refusing to participate in the coalition government until his concerns regarding political violence and southern economic marginalization were resolved.

1993: First Unified Parliamentary Election

In 1993, Yemen held its first parliamentary election following the unification of the country. During these 1993 elections, the General People's Congress secured 122 out of the 301 available seats in the unified parliament.

February 1994: Amman Accord

On 20 February 1994, leaders from northern and southern Yemen signed a peace accord in Amman, Jordan; however, the agreement failed to prevent the outbreak of civil war as both sides continued to mobilize their non-integrated armies along their frontiers.

1994: Political Deadlock and Ineffective Governance

Throughout 1994, the Yemeni government faced a persistent political deadlock and ineffective administration under Prime Minister Haydar Abu Bakr Al-Attas due to intense internal conflict.

1999: 1999 Yemeni Presidential Election

In 1999, Ali Abdullah Saleh secured victory in Yemen's first directly elected presidential contest, garnering 96% of the vote against independent candidate Najeeb Qahtan Al-Sha'abi.

October 2000: USS Cole Bombing

In October 2000, 17 U.S. personnel lost their lives following a suicide attack orchestrated by al-Qaeda against the USS Cole while it was docked in the port of Aden, Yemen.

2001: 2001 Yemeni Referendum

During 2001, Yemen held a controversial constitutional referendum marked by violence, which resulted in the extension of President Ali Abdullah Saleh's term and the expansion of his executive powers.

2011: Start of the Yemen Political Crisis

In 2011, Yemen began experiencing a major political crisis fueled by public protests addressing issues such as high unemployment, widespread poverty, government corruption, and opposition to President Saleh's efforts to remove presidential term limits.

2012: Resignation of Ali Abdullah Saleh

In 2012, Ali Abdullah Saleh resigned from his position as the first president of the unified Republic of Yemen, a move triggered by the political unrest of the Arab Spring.

2015: Escalation into Civil War

By 2015, the political instability in Yemen escalated into a full-scale civil war, characterized by a power struggle between the internationally recognized Presidential Leadership Council and the Houthi movement's Supreme Political Council, resulting in a devastating humanitarian crisis involving foreign military intervention.

2019: UN Humanitarian Aid Report

In 2019, the United Nations identified that approximately 24 million people in Yemen, representing nearly 75% of the total population, required humanitarian assistance.

2020: Global Hunger Index Ranking

According to the 2020 Global Hunger Index, Yemen held the second-worst ranking in the world, with only the Central African Republic facing more severe hunger levels.

2024: Fragile States Index and Global Peace Index Ranking

As of 2024, Yemen was classified as the sixth-most fragile state according to the Fragile States Index and was designated the least peaceful country globally by the Global Peace Index.