Experts taking part included <\/span>Ateq Jarallah<\/b>, Director of the Mokha Center; <\/span>Oliver McTernan<\/b>, Director of Forward Thinking; <\/span>Ismail Al-Suhaili<\/b>, Professor of Political Science and Senior Researcher at the Mokha Center; <\/span>Ahmed Ramadan<\/b>, Director General of the London Center for Media Strategies; <\/span>Cecily Bayliss<\/b>, Program Director at WFS; <\/span>Anna Bailey Morley<\/b>, Middle East Program Officer at Forward Thinking; and <\/span>Jordan Morgan<\/b>, Program Director at Forward Thinking.<\/span><\/p>\n Al-Suhaili traced the roots of Yemen\u2019s conflict to the historical dominance of the Imamate, which claimed divine right rather than deriving legitimacy from the will of the people. He explained how the Houthis capitalized on internal discontent, Iranian support, Hadi\u2019s political maneuvering, and Saleh\u2019s ambitions to carry out the September 21, 2014 coup and seize Sana\u2019a.<\/span><\/p>\n He identified the key factors that continue to drive the conflict: Houthi authoritarian control, weak and fragmented legitimacy, Iranian interference, Saudi\u2013UAE rivalry, international complacency, and competition over Yemen\u2019s strategic location. Al-Suhaili stressed that peace in Yemen is both a national necessity and a regional and international opportunity\u2014through restoring institutions, enabling democracy, and building a sovereign and capable state.<\/span><\/p>\n McTernan provided an in-depth analysis of the conflict\u2019s dynamics in Yemen and the wider region. He examined issues of loyalty, funding, recruitment, and command structures, highlighting the impact of external interventions on reshaping the threat landscape.<\/span><\/p>\n He cautioned that \u201cpeace through force\u201d creates only fragile outcomes, stressing that sustainable peace must be rooted in justice, law, and dialogue. Drawing on lessons from South Africa and Ireland, he argued for inclusive approaches. McTernan also criticized Israel for repeated violations of international law and reliance on prolonged conflict, often with U.S. support.<\/span><\/p>\n Ramadan examined global power struggles and their implications for Yemen. He identified three overlapping conflicts: Russia versus the West (manifest in Ukraine), China versus the United States (with Russia benefiting), and Europe versus the United States (the most consequential, reshaping the global order).<\/span><\/p>\n He argued that these struggles are shifting Middle East balances and directly influencing Yemen. Despite its strategic location in trade, energy, and connectivity, Yemen remains excluded from global opportunities due to instability. Ramadan urged a transition from a \u201cstate of conflict\u201d to a \u201cstate of partnership,\u201d the only framework capable of accommodating Yemen\u2019s diverse society.<\/span><\/p>\n Jarallah analyzed possible trajectories for Yemen, noting that the conflict has shifted from a domestic crisis to a regional and now international issue involving powers such as the U.S., the U.K., and Israel.<\/span><\/p>\n He outlined three scenarios:<\/span><\/p>\n Bayliss highlighted the disproportionate burden borne by women during the conflict, particularly in health and access to basic services. She identified water scarcity as a critical challenge, suggesting Gulf states finance Yemen\u2019s water needs while European partners invest in sustainable management.<\/span><\/p>\n She underscored that women\u2019s participation in political decision-making is essential for building a just and lasting peace.<\/span><\/p>\n Morley examined how Yemen is portrayed in Western media, noting it is often reduced to a proxy battlefield between Saudi Arabia and Iran or between the United States and Iran, with the humanitarian dimension overlooked.<\/span><\/p>\n This lack of visibility, she argued, has left Yemen \u201cinvisible\u201d to international public opinion. She called for amplifying Yemeni voices and local narratives to counter narrow geopolitical framings.<\/span><\/p>\n Morgan reflected on Yemen\u2019s declining priority on the international agenda amid other regional crises such as Gaza. He argued that platforms like this seminar help bring Yemen back into focus.<\/span><\/p>\n He warned against framing the conflict in religious or ideological terms, which deepen divisions and fuel violence. Instead, he called for strengthening civic and community leadership and reviving national dialogue as practical steps forward.<\/span><\/p>\n The seminar underscored that Yemen is no longer an isolated conflict but part of broader regional and international struggles. Participants agreed that force cannot deliver sustainable peace. Stability requires justice, national partnership, and a capable state that provides governance and development\u2014allowing Yemen to leverage its strategic position rather than remain an arena of conflict.<\/span><\/p>\n The Mokha Center for Strategic Studies and the Forward Thinking organization held a seminar titled Yemen in Light of Regional and International Developments.The event brought together Yemeni and British experts to analyze the drivers of the Yemeni conflict, examine regional and global dynamics, and explore pathways toward peace. Experts taking part included Ateq Jarallah, …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":10658,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[841,289,811],"class_list":["post-10645","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events","tag-international-developments","tag-mockha-center","tag-yemen-news"],"yoast_head":"\nOpening Presentation \u2013 Ismail Al-Suhaili<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Analysis of Conflict Mechanisms \u2013 Oliver McTernan<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Regional and Global Transformations \u2013 Ahmed Ramadan<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Future Scenarios \u2013 Ateq Jarallah<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
\n
Women and the Humanitarian Dimension \u2013 Cecily Bayliss<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Yemen\u2019s Image in Western Media \u2013 Anna Bailey Morley<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Leadership in Conflict \u2013 Jordan Morgan<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Key Takeaways<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
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