Understand
An overview of the Houthi movement in Yemen, its origins, and recent escalations
Overview
The Houthi movement is an armed political and religious group from northern Yemen championing the Zaidi Shia minority. Formally known as Ansar Allah, the group emerged in the 1990s and has been involved in a devastating civil war against Saudi-backed pro-government forces since seizing control of Sanaa in 2014. The conflict has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, with the Houthis controlling a significant portion of Yemen's territory. Recent escalations include Houthi advances along the Red Sea coast, attacks on Saudi infrastructure, and involvement in regional conflicts linked to Iran's "axis of resistance", drawing responses from regional and Western powers.
Key points
- The Houthis are an armed political and religious group representing Yemen's Zaidi Shia minority, forming part of the Iran-led "axis of resistance".
- Emerging in the 1990s, the group seized the capital Sanaa in 2014 and forced the government to flee, prompting a Saudi-led military coalition intervention in 2015.
- The ongoing civil war has caused over 150,000 deaths, displaced hundreds of thousands, and created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
- The Houthis control between a quarter and a third of Yemen's territory, where roughly three-quarters of the population live.
- Recent fighting has seen Houthi advances along Yemen's Red Sea coast near the Bab al-Mandab Strait and retaliatory drone and missile attacks on Saudi infrastructure.
- Saudi Arabia and Western nations accuse Iran of supplying the Houthis with weapons, training, and missile technology, though Iran denies arming the group.