Now we know why he improved relations with the Saudi Arabia: "Last year, Yemen's defense minister published what was widely interpreted as a fatwa, or binding religious decree, sanctioning Sunnis to use force against the northern Shiite rebels. The largely impoverished nation of 23 million is majority Sunni."
"Saudi Arabia is pushing hard on Yemen to crack down on the rebels, for fear rebellion will cross the border into the Shiite communities of the southern Saudi oil fields, Awadi said. "I think Saudi Arabia cares more about this war than Yemen does," Awadi said."