United States Sanction Former Yemeni Strongman

By Stephen Levy

On Monday, the United States placed sanctions on Ali Abdullah Saleh, the former “President” of Yemen, reports The Guardian. The sanctions come during a political whirlwind in the southern Arabian country: first came United Nations Security Council sanctions on Saleh; then Saleh and his political party removed themselves from the country’s unity cabinet; finally came the U.S. sanctions. Included in the sanctions imposed by the UN and the U.S. were two leaders of the Houthi rebel movement. The Houthis and Saleh, seemingly odd bedfellows due to their constant warring during Saleh’s long-lasting presidency, have been accused of aiding each other to destabilize the unity government.