`` The main reason for fighting this group is that it 's up in arms in rebellion against Yemen 's government and it is challenging the legitimacy of Yemen 's central government in Sanaa , '' he said . Yemen 's Sunni government , Shiite Houthi rebels have fought intermittently for years . The conflict has killed more than 10,000 people and displaced millions of others in the Arabian Peninsula nation. Yemen said it had seized an Iranian ship near its territorial waters . Some worry Yemen could be stage for proxy struggle between Iran , Saudi monarchy .
Yemen 's Sunni government , Shiite Houthi rebels have fought intermittently for years . The conflict has killed more than 10,000 people and displaced millions of others in the Arabian Peninsula nation. Yemen said it had seized an Iranian ship near its territorial waters . Some worry Yemen could be stage for proxy struggle between Iran , Saudi monarchy .