How a twelve-day siege fundamentally reshaped the Yemeni state

Countries & Cities · Published 2 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In September 2014, the streets of Sanaa transformed into a violent battleground. What began as protests over fuel subsidies rapidly escalated into a full-scale military takeover, leaving the capital in the hands of Houthi rebels and triggering a profound collapse of the national government.

The conflict began on 9 September 2014, when Houthi demonstrators marched on the Yemeni cabinet office. The encounter turned lethal when security forces opened fire, resulting in seven deaths. By mid-September, the unrest shifted from civil protest to organized urban warfare. On 18 September, heavy fighting broke out in northern Sanaa as Houthi forces, led by Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, clashed with the Sunni Islah Party during an attempt to seize Yemen TV. This specific confrontation left 40 people dead and forced the suspension of flights at Sanaa International Airport.

The escalation reached its peak on 19 September. Houthi fighters launched intense attacks against military positions, including the shelling of state television and the seizure of Saddeq Hill, a strategic height overlooking Al-Iman University and the headquarters of General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar. During this wave of violence, more than 60 people were killed. President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi characterized the onslaught as an attempted coup, even as UN envoy Jamal Benomar sought a diplomatic resolution.

By 21 September, the Houthi takeover of Sanaa was effectively complete. The group had captured the prime minister's offices, the state television building, and military headquarters. While a deal was signed to end the immediate crisis, the Houthis refused to disarm or relinquish seized territories. The political fallout was immediate: Prime Minister Mohammed Basindawa resigned, criticizing the government's lack of transparency. The period of instability continued into 2015, when the Houthis eventually captured the presidential palace and dissolved the House of Representatives.

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