The US has carried out further strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, but who are the group?
The Houthi movement, also known as Ansarallah (Supporters of God), emerged in the 1990s, when its leader, Hussein al-Houthi, launched a religious revival movement for a centuries-old subsect of Shia Islam called Zaidism.
The Zaidis ruled Yemen for centuries but were marginalized under the Sunni regime that came to power after the 1962 civil war. Al-Houthi’s movement was founded to represent Zaidis and resist radical Sunnism, particularly Wahhabi ideas from Saudi Arabia. His closest followers became known as Houthis.
Currently, the Houthis remain in control of much of Yemen, and form part of Iran’s so-called “Axis of Resistance” – an anti-Israel and anti-Western alliance of regional militias backed by the Islamic Republic. Along with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis are one of three prominent Iran-backed militias that have launched attacks on Israel in recent weeks.
Attacks on the Red Sea: The Houthis have been targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea to inflict economic pain on Israel and its allies in response to the horrific scenes coming out of Gaza, and is believed to be an attempt to pressure Israel into ceasing its bombardment.
The global economy has been served a series of painful reminders of the importance of this narrow stretch of sea, which runs from the Bab-el-Mandeb straits off the coast of Yemen to the Suez Canal in northern Egypt – and through which 12% of global trade flows, including 30% of global container traffic.
A number of countries have taken steps to curb the Houthi aggression in the Red Sea region. The United Nations Security Council has meanwhile approved a resolution calling on Yemen’s Houthi rebel group to cease it attacks in the Red Sea.
A Houthi spokesperson said they would continue its attacks “to prevent Israeli ships going to the ports of occupied Palestine from navigation in the Arab and Red Seas.”
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David Turner is a globe-trotting journalist who brings a global perspective to our readers. With a commitment to shedding light on international events, he explores complex geopolitical issues, offering a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
