Who are the Houthis and why do they matter?

The Houthis are a powerful political, military and religious movement based in Yemen. They control most of northwestern Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa.

The group has become an important force in the Middle East. Its attacks have affected regional security, international shipping and global energy supplies.

The Houthis became widely known outside Yemen after they began attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea in 2023. They also launched drones and missiles towards Israel.

The group said the attacks were carried out in support of Palestinians during the war in Gaza. The attacks forced many international shipping companies to avoid the Red Sea.

Ships travelling between Europe and Asia were instead forced to take longer routes around Africa. This increased travel times and raised transportation and insurance costs.

How did the Houthis emerge?

The Houthi movement began in northern Yemen in the 1990s. It grew from a revival movement among followers of Zaydi Islam, a branch of Shia Islam with deep historical roots in Yemen.

The movement opposed what it described as political and economic marginalisation of northern Yemen. It gradually developed into an armed organisation.

The group fought several conflicts with the Yemeni government. It also fought a short border conflict with Saudi Arabia.

The political situation changed after longtime Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh was removed during the Arab Spring protests in 2011.

The Houthis rejected the political transition that followed. They expanded their influence and strengthened their military capabilities.

In 2014, the group captured Sanaa. It then pushed the internationally recognised government towards the southern city of Aden.

Why did Saudi Arabia fight the Houthis?

Saudi Arabia became increasingly concerned about the Houthis’ growing power near its southern border.

Riyadh also feared that Iran was expanding its influence in Yemen. In 2015, Saudi Arabia led a military coalition against the Houthis.

The coalition wanted to push the Houthis out of areas they had captured and restore Yemen’s internationally recognised government.

The conflict continued for years. Saudi Arabia and its allies, including the United Arab Emirates, carried out extensive air strikes.

Despite the military campaign, the Houthis retained control of much of northwestern Yemen. The region is home to a large part of Yemen’s population.

The war also created a major humanitarian crisis. Millions of Yemenis were affected by fighting, displacement, food shortages and the collapse of basic services.

A United Nations-backed truce in 2022 reduced the fighting between the main sides. The truce largely froze the conflict without producing a permanent political settlement.

How powerful are the Houthis?

The Houthis have developed significant military capabilities. Their forces have used drones and missiles against military targets, infrastructure and energy facilities.

They have previously attacked targets in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Some of these attacks caused serious damage to oil facilities and other infrastructure.

Their ability to threaten shipping is particularly important because the Red Sea is a major international trade route.

The group’s renewed attacks have raised concerns about another disruption to global shipping and energy markets.

What is the Houthi connection with Iran?

Iran considers the Houthis part of its wider regional network known as the “Axis of Resistance.”

The network includes groups such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah and several Iraqi Shia militias.

The Houthis are ideologically aligned with Iran. However, their relationship with Tehran is different from Iran’s ties with some of its other regional allies.

The Houthis do not recognise Iran’s supreme leader as their ultimate religious authority. Their movement is also strongly focused on Yemen’s domestic political and military struggle.

The United States says Iran has provided the Houthis with weapons, funding and training, with assistance from Hezbollah.

The Houthis reject the description of themselves as an Iranian proxy. They say they are an independent movement and develop their own weapons.

Why does the group matter now?

The Houthis’ importance goes beyond Yemen.

Their position near the Red Sea gives them the ability to threaten one of the world’s important shipping corridors. Any prolonged disruption can increase the cost of transporting goods between Asia and Europe.

Their attacks can also affect energy markets, particularly when tensions involving Iran and the Gulf are already high.

Renewed fighting between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia could also threaten the relative calm that has existed in Yemen since the 2022 truce.