Unit 4 AOS 2 - Global Crises

Question 1

Houthi Rebels

• Years of Operation
• Countries of Operation
• Facilitators

Answer 1

Years of Operation: 1994 onwards (armed in 2004)
Countries of Operation: Yemen
Facilitators: Iran, Hezbollah

Question 2

Houthi Rebels (Cause - Iran’s Involvement)

Answer 2

• Used as a pawn in Iran’s proxy war against Saudi Arabia
• Funded by Iran in order to preoccupy Saudi Arabia in Yemen
• Kept armed and in operation by Iran

Question 3

Houthi Rebels (Cause - President Accusation)

Answer 3

• Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh
• Massive financial corruption
• Too friendly with Saudi Arabia and United States

Question 4

Houthi Rebels (Aims)

Answer 4

• To bring down the pro-Saudi government in Yemen

- To bring down the state of Israel

Question 5

Houthi Rebels (Ma’Rib Drone Attack)

Answer 5

(2020) Drone and missile attack on military camp near Ma’Rib, 111 killed

Question 6

Houthi Rebels (Jizan Airport Missile Attacks)

Answer 6

(2019) Fired 10 ballistic missiles at Jizan airport, Saudi Arabia said it intercepted at least six of the missiles, dozens killed and wounded

Question 7

Houthi Rebels (Iran’s Response)

Answer 7

• Iran funds the Houthi rebels, keeping them armed and in operation
• Iranian advisers help the rebels to use the sophisticated guided missiles fired at the US Navy

Question 8

Houthi Rebels (United Nations’ Response)

Answer 8

• Resolution 2216: Demanded Houthis withdraw from occupied areas, relinquish all seized arms and embargoed all arms sales to Houthis

Question 9

Houthi Rebels (Challenges to Conflict Resolution)

Answer 9

• Saudi Arabia has US-backing meaning they have the resources to prolong the war as long as it takes to defeat the Houthis
• The ongoing proxy war where both Saudi Arabia and Iran are trying to gain control in Yemen would have to reach a resolution before the Yemen problem could

Question 10

Boko Haram

• Years of Operation
• Countries of Operation
• Facilitators

Answer 10

Years of Operation: violent since 2010 (founded in 2002)
Countries of Operation: Nigeria
Facilitators: Al Qaeda

Question 11

Boko Haram (Cause - Westernisation of Nigeria)

Answer 11

• Boko Haram’s founders are critical of western nations
• They blame North-South disparities on western influence (eg. 72% of the north are impoverished vs only 27% in the south)
• They blame western influence for the less extreme Muslim culture in Nigeria

Question 12

Boko Haram (Cause - Mohammad Yusuf)

Answer 12

• Founder of Boko Haram
• Provided social services to the poor people living in Borno, as the government had been neglecting this area
• Opened a mosque and school where his ideology was taught
• Thus, people were more inclined to support Yusuf and his beliefs

Question 13

Boko Haram (January 2015 attack)

Answer 13

Boko Haram’s largest attack. More than 3100 buildings were damaged, while a further 670 were burned, 2000 people killed

Question 14

Boko Haram (Schoolgirl Kidnappings)

Answer 14

(April 2014) Boko Haram members kidnapped 276 girls from a boarding school in the town of Chibok

Question 15

Boko Haram (MNJTF’s Response)

Answer 15

• Multi-National Joint Task Force
• Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad operate in the 4 designated sectors that Nigeria is split up in
• Consists of about 11150 soldiers
• Goal is to eliminate Boko Haram and facilitate the stabilisation of areas affected by the terrorist group

Question 16

Boko Haram (Challenges to Conflict Resolution)

Answer 16

• The MNJTF is underfunded because the Lake Chad Basin Commission, which founded the MNJTF in 2015, allocated a $700 million budget but they have only received less than 50% of the promised funds
• The MNJTF is focusing primarily of military action and neglecting the root causes of Boko Haram (eg. lack of education in the region)

Question 17

Boko Haram (Aims)

Answer 17

• Establish an Islamic State under Sharia law in Nigeria

- Impose Islamic rule beyond Nigeria

Question 18

Yemini Civil War (Cause - Iran’s Involvement)

Answer 18

• Houthi rebels are used as a pawn in Iran’s proxy war against Saudi Arabia
• Funded by Iran in order to preoccupy Saudi Arabia in Yemen
• Kept armed and in operation by Iran

Question 19

Yemini Civil War (Cause - President Accusation)

Answer 19

• Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh
• Massive financial corruption
• Too friendly with Saudi Arabia and United States

Question 20

Yemini Civil War (Ma’Rib Drone Attack)

Answer 20

(2020) Drone and missile attack on military camp near Ma’Rib, 111 killed

Question 21

Yemeni Civil War (Jizan Airport Missile Attacks)

Answer 21

(2019) Fired 10 ballistic missiles at Jizan airport, Saudi Arabia said it intercepted at least six of the missiles, dozens killed and wounded

Question 22

Yemeni Civil War (Important Parties)

Answer 22

• Houthi Rebels backed by Iran

- Hadi Government backed by Saudi Arabia

Question 23

Yemini Civil War (United Nations’ Response)

Answer 23

• UNSC Resolution 2216 (demanded Houthis withdraw from occupied areas, relinquish all seized arms, embargoed all arms sales to Houthis)
• Facilitated the Stockholm Agreement: including a ceasefire and redeployment of forces, facilitating the movement of humanitarian aid and prisoner swaps
• UNSC Resolution 2451 (organised a Special Political Mission to help implement the Stockholm Agreement and monitor peace around Hodeidah)

Question 24

Yemini Civil War (Challenges to Resolution)

Answer 24

• Proxy-war status and arms trade fuelling violence

- Lack of established legitimacy by any one government

Question 25

Syrian Civil War (Causes)

Answer 25

- Sectarian Society | - Government Repression

Question 26

Syrian Civil War (Damascus Bombing)

Answer 26

(2012) There was a double suicide bombing at a military base in Damascus. 55 dead and 400 injured. The Syrian government blamed the opposition whereas the opposition said that the government staged the attack to discredit them. The Nusrah Front, an Islamist extremist group operating in Syria, released a video, claiming responsibility for the bombings. However, days later, spokesmen for the Nusrah Front claimed that the video was forged and denied any responsibility for the attack.

Question 27

Syrian Civil War (Turkey's Jab)

Answer 27

2019: Turkey launched an offensive into the Kurdish north-east region of Syria, days after the US said it would not fight in such an incursion.

Question 28

Syrian Civil War (Important Parties)

Answer 28

- Syrian Government - Syrian Rebels - ISIS - Kurds

Question 29

Syrian Civil War (United Nations' Response)

Answer 29

The UNSC passed Resolution 2118 in 2013, demanding the destruction of all of Syria's chemical weapons stockpile

Question 30

Syrian Civil War (Iran's Response)

Answer 30

- Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei spoke in favour of the Syrian government in regard to the uprising - "In Syria, the hand of America and Israel is evident" and "Wherever a movement is Islamic, populist and anti-US, we support it." Allegedly Iran sent the Syrian government $9 billion to help it withstand the sanctions.

Question 31

Syrian Civil War (Challenges to Resolution)

Answer 31

- Stubborn ISIS resistance | - America didn't pick a side

Question 32

Crisis Diplomacy

Answer 32

Negotiations between actors in the global political arena in response to an immediate crisis. This most commonly concerns conflicts and natural, but also economic and health crises.

Question 33

International Cooperation

Answer 33

Occasions when global actors work together to achieve common ideals and goals.

Question 34

Globalisation

Answer 34

The acceleration and intensification of exchange of goods, services, labour and capital, which promote global interdependence. These have been facilitated by rapid changes in communication and technology.

Question 35

Unilateralism

Answer 35

The policy of a state acting alone in pursuit of their national interests and/or in response to a global crisis.