Anglo-Yemeni Border Clashes 1919-1934

Mahmud al-Mutawakkil Yahya remained loyal to the Turks when World War I broke out but did not take an active part in the hostilities. At the close of the war he was recognized as the independent ruler of the Yemen, but there was no agreement on just which territories composed the country.

Yahya clashed with the British, who had a military base in Aden and who considered many of the neighbouring tribes to be under their protection.