Yemen separatists say they've seized the key port of Aden

CNN ^ | Sun August 11, 2019 | Ivana Kottasová and Sarah El Sirgany,

[morphing libertarian]

thanx unfamiliar with current issues like who are the separatists and is the government on our side?

[Cronos]

There is no real "government" and none of the sides is on the side of the West really, but some - like Al-Qaeda in Southern Arabia are anti-West.

this is what the place looked like before unification in 1990

And this is the demographic map

In short you've got the Houthis in what was North Yemen. They now control this area. Prior to 1990 it was a Zayidi Imamate -- please don't take the simplest thing of clubbing all "Shia" together - the range of beliefs are as diverse as "Protestants"

The Houthis are called "separatists" but they aren't really - they just fought against the dictator and now want a return to a place for themselves

"Sunnis" in Yemen aren't generally Wahabbi (a sub-sect of Sunni Islam that is virulently violent) but in the eastern, lesser populated part there is Al-Qaeda in South Arabia.

The non-Houthis are divided into pro-Saudi, pro-UAE and AQSA (Al qaeda).

The only reason for the USA to be even remotely involved is to ensure that trade though the Suez canal continues - and quite frankly I think the USA should take a back-seat to the German, Chinese, Indian, British and French navies who have the Suez as more of a lifeline -- let THEM spend money. The USA shouldn't be seen as a leader (as that will target ire our way) nor spend so much money.

[morphing libertarian]

Thanx

[Cronos]

Just to add on to your question “is this a good or bad thing”

In my opinion it is a good thing. You will have a de-facto if not de-jure bifurcation of the country. The Houthis get back north Yemen and they will be a thorn to the Saudis - because
1. The Saudis hate the idea of a non-Wahabbi, saudi-sponsored state so close to them
2. the Saudis in the 1920s - remember that Saudi Arabia is an empire, it conquered various Arab tribes (proto-nations) under the flag of the family of Al-Saud-al-Wahhabb (yes, the saudis married into the Wahabbi leader’s family) - the Saudis conquered parts of Zayidi lands in the 1920s and persecute and persecuted Zayidis — for instance until recently the Saudis have burnt and destroyed centuries, if not millenia old tombs of Zayidi and Ismaili (another sect of Shia but very, very different) saints.

The Saudis are a corrupt family dictatorship.