526 Chapter 5
Later, after finding that the Yemenis had returned to the fort, the Royal Air Force
destroyed it completely on September 9. One Yemeni was killed in the process.
Yemen began protesting through available channels, such as the UN Security Council
and the Arab League, but to no immediate avail. The United Nations determined that
this matter was best settled between the disputants. After some delay, talks began on
August 28, 1950. Yemen opted to maintain goodwill with Great Britain and did not
press for indemnity. The talks ended on October 10.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from July 1949. Outcome changed from Victory
for side A. Settlement changed from Imposed. Fatalities changed from Missing.
MID#259
Dispute Number: 259
Date(s): June 3, 1956 to September 6, 1958
Participants: 200 United Kingdom/678 Yemen Arab Republic
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side A (None)
Fatalities: Missing
Narrative: This dispute began with British Royal Air Force attack on the Yemeni cus-
toms house in June 1956. British policy was to sow division within the various tribes
of neighboring countries in order to defend its protectorate at Aden. Several more
incidents followed, usually by RAF planes conducting strikes on Yemeni positions.
Yemen responded with cross-border raids as well and signed a cooperation agreement
with the Soviet Union.
Yemen also signed a military pact with Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and Britain wor-
ried of more general anti-British sentiment on the peninsula. In January 1958 the
United States pressured both to hold talks, and those took place in Cairo. No agree-
ments were made, and incidents continued through September.
MID#610
Dispute Number: 610
Date(s): October 21, 1962 to June 30, 1965
Participants: 678 Yemen Arab Republic/200 United Kingdom
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: 26–100 deaths
Narrative: A wave of Arab nationalism was sweeping the Middle East and embold-
ened Yemenis to seek unification with the British protectorate of Aden. The Aden
Emergency or Radfan Uprising constituted a series of low-level terrorist attacks within
the Aden protectorate proper that targeted British officials and forces. Even before the
uprising, however, Yemeni forces engaged the British in numerous clashes across
the dispute border. The goal of Yemeni policy was of course to drive the British from
the area, and Britain wanted to do this but also sought to protect its citizens once any
possible takeover occurred. This dispute lasted almost three years, and the uprising
continued until 1967, when Britain closed its naval base and withdrew.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from October 22, 1962. Fatalities changed from
Missing.