Weathering the Storm: Legality and Legal Implications of the Saudi-Led Military Intervention in Yemen

Abstract

On 26 March 2015, a Saudi-led coalition launched ‘Operation Decisive Storm’ on the territory of the Republic of Yemen following a request by that country’s beleaguered government. Although it received no prior fiat from the UN Security Council and took place amidst a civil war, the intervention met with approval from numerous States, with only few critical sounds. Closer scrutiny nonetheless reveals that the self-defence justification, primarily relied upon, does not provide a convincing legal basis. Moreover, the intervention is problematic from the perspective of the intervention by invitation doctrine and undeniably exposes its indeterminacy and proneness to abuse.

Keywords: Jus ad Bellum, Right to Self-Defence, Intervention by Invitation, Right to Self-Determination, Principle of Non-Intervention