The number of military personnel in Yemen is relatively high; in sum, Yemen has the second largest military force on the Arabian Peninsula after Saudi Arabia. Yemen’s military consists of an army, navy, air force, and reserves. In 2007 total active troops were estimated as follows: army, 600,000; navy, 7000; and air force, 5,000. In September 2007, the government announced the reinstatement of compulsory military service.
The number of military personnel in Yemen is relatively high; in sum, Yemen has the second largest military force on the Arabian Peninsula after Saudi Arabia. Yemen’s military consists of an army, navy, air force, and reserves. In 2007 total active troops were estimated as follows: army, 600,000; navy, 7000; and air force, 5,000. In September 2007, the government announced the reinstatement of compulsory military service. Yemen’s defense budget, which in 2006 represented approximately 60 percent of the total government budget, is expected to remain high for the near term, as the military draft takes effect and internal security threats continue to escalate. Despite these troop levels, Yemen’s military equipment is considered to be light, outdated, and poorly maintained, particularly when compared with neighboring Gulf states.
The military of
YemenYemen , officially the Republic of Yemen is a country located on the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia...
includes the
Yemen Army-Army:The supreme commander of the armed forces is Field Marshal, Ali Abdullah Saleh, the President of the Republic of Yemen. Yemen recently placed an order for TOR air defence systems, which will be far more advanced than the current air defense systems in place. The TOR order has been completed....
(includes Republican Guard), Navy (includes Marines),
Yemen Air Force-North and South Yemen:Certainly one of the more obscure air forces of the Middle-East is that of Yemen, locally known as al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Yamaniya. The Yemen Air Force took its first steps around 1926 when a small air arm was established. During the mid-'50's the Imam of Yemen established...
(Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Jamahiriya al Yemeniya; includes Air Defense Force) (2008). About 40% of the country's GDP accounts for defense spending. A major reorganization of the armed forces continues. The unified air forces and air defenses are now under one command. The navy has concentrated in
AdenAden is a city in Yemen, 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb.Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a low isthmus. This harbour, Front Bay, was first used by the ancient Kingdom of Awsan between the 5th and...
. Total armed forces manning numbers about 895,000, including conscripts. The Yemen Arab Republic and The People's Democratic Republic of Yemen joined to form the Republic of Yemen on 22 May 1990.
History
The armed forces of the Yemen Arab Republic and the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen were officially merged in May 1990, but in May 1994 civil war broke out between the forces of the two former states, culminating in victory for the North. In October 1994, President Ali Abdallah Salih announced plans for the modernization of the armed forces, which would include the banning of party affiliation in the security services and armed forces, and in March 1995 the full merger of the armed forces was completed.
Branches
Yemen’s military is divided into an army, navy, and air force. The army is organized into eight armored brigades, 16 infantry brigades, six mechanized brigades, two airborne commando brigades, one surface-to-surface missile brigade, three artillery brigades, one central guard force, one Special Forces brigade, and six air defense brigades, which consist of four antiaircraft artillery battalions and one surface-to-air missile battalion. The navy’s major bases are located in Aden and Al Hudaydah; there are also bases in Al Mukalla, Perim Island, and Socotra that maintain naval support equipment. The air force includes an air defense force.
The supreme commander of the armed forces is Field Marshal,
Ali Abdullah SalehField Marshal Ali Abdullah Saleh , born March 21, 1942, is the current President of Yemen. He was President of the Yemen Arab Republic from 1978 to 1990 and became president of the newly united Republic of Yemen in 1990....
, the President of the Republic of Yemen. Yemen recently placed an order for TOR air defence systems, which will be far more advanced than the current air defense systems in place. The TOR order has been completed. The Yemeni army has a strength of 600,000 troops.
Yemen's navy uses +2,000 officers and seamen to support their main bases at
AdenAden is a city in Yemen, 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb.Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a low isthmus. This harbour, Front Bay, was first used by the ancient Kingdom of Awsan between the 5th and...
and Hodeida. A naval fortress is in construction at Hodeida.
Military service
In 2001 Yemen’s National Defense Council abolished the existing two-year compulsory military service, relying instead on volunteers to fill posts in the military and security forces. In 2007 the government announced it would reinstate the draft to counter unemployment; approximately 70,000 new recruits are expected to join the military.
Military manpower - military age:
18 year of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 18-49:
4,058,223 (2008 est.)
females age 18-49:
3,868,112 (2005 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 18-49:
2,790,705 (2008 est.)
females age 18-49:
2,792,406 (2005 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males:
236,517 (2008 est.)
females:
230,641 (2005 est.)
Defense budget
Yemen’s defense spending has historically been one of the government’s three largest expenditures and is expected to remain high as a result of the reinstatement of conscription and security threats posed by terrorism and tribal conflict. The defense budget increased from US$540 million in 2001 to and estimated US$2 billion–US$2.1 billion in 2006. According to the U.S. government, the 2006 budget represents about 6 percent of gross domestic product.
Foreign military relations and foreign military presence in Yemen
Although no U.S. troops are based permanently in Yemen, the United States has provided military assistance and technical support in recent years. According to the U.S. Department of State, the resumption of International Military Education and Training (IMET) assistance and the transfer of military equipment and spare parts to Yemen have improved defense relations between the United States and Yemen. In FY 2006, Foreign Military Financing for Yemen was US$8.4 million, IMET was US$924,000, and Non-Proliferation, Anti-Terrorism, Demining and Related Programs received US$1.4 million. Nongovernment sources report that in addition to this aid, U.S. military advisers have trained Yemeni troops in counterterrorism techniques, and the United States has contributed to Yemen’s border security by installing advanced technological immigration control systems. In an effort to bolster Yemen’s maritime security and establish a coast guard capable of stemming terrorist activities, the United States has sent naval experts to train the new Yemeni coast guard and in 2004–5 donated 14 patrol craft to the coast guard. In 2005 an Australian company delivered 10 patrol boats to assist Yemeni government efforts to combat terrorism and illegal trafficking; the company will train crews to man the vessels.
U.S. military personnel have been deployed in Yemen in recent years for training purposes. Since the February 2006 escape of 23 Al Qaeda members from a prison in Sanaa, an international coalition of warships has patrolled the waterways off Yemen.
Yemeni military forces abroad
Yemen’s Middle Eastern neighbors who are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) participate in a defense force based in Saudi Arabia. Yemen is not a member of the GCC, and there are no reports of the country having a military presence outside of its own borders.
Paramilitary forces
Yemen’s paramilitary force has about 71,000 troops. Approximately 50,000 constitute the Central Security Organization of the Ministry of Interior; they are equipped with a range of infantry weapons and armored personnel carriers. An additional 20,000 are forces of armed tribal levies. Yemen is building up a small coast guard under the Ministry of Interior, training naval military technicians for posts in Aden and Al Mukalla. The coast guard currently has 1,200 personnel.