Who Are the Houthis?
Houthis are a political and military group that represents Yemen’s Zaidi Shia Muslim minority. They see themselves as part of an Iran-led alliance against Israel, the U.S., and Western countries, alongside groups like Hamas.
Their official name is Ansar Allah (Partisans of God). The group was founded in the 1990s by Hussein al-Houthi, and its current leader is his brother, Abdul Malik al-Houthi.
In the early 2000s, the Houthis fought against Yemen’s long-time president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, seeking more autonomy in the north of Yemen. Later, they took control of Saada province and formed an alliance with Saleh’s forces.
In 2015, they captured Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and forced the government to flee. Neighboring Saudi Arabia saw this as a threat and led a coalition of Arab countries to fight the Houthis. Despite years of airstrikes and battles, the Houthis still control large parts of western Yemen.
Is Iran Supporting the Houthis?
The U.S. and Saudi Arabia accuse Iran of sending weapons to the Houthis, including drones and missiles, despite a UN arms embargo. These weapons have been used in attacks on Saudi Arabia and its ally, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Iran denies direct involvement, but U.S. officials say Iran enabled the Houthis to target ships. President Biden even sent a private warning to Iran, urging it to stop supporting them.
Why is the U.S. Targeting the Houthis?
When the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023, Iran-backed Houthi rebels started attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The U.S. responded with airstrikes to stop these attacks.
At first, the Houthis launched drones and missiles toward Israel, but most were intercepted. Then, on November 19, 2023, they hijacked a commercial ship in the Red Sea. Since then, they have attacked dozens of ships, sinking two, seizing another, and killing four crew members.
The Houthis claimed they were only targeting ships linked to Israel. However, many of the attacked ships had no connection to Israel. After the U.S. and U.K. bombed Houthi positions in Yemen in January 2024, the Houthis expanded their attacks to include ships owned by U.S. or U.K. companies.
The U.S. carried out multiple attacks in response. The most recent, in mid-March, caused a stir in Trump’s new presidency after it was revealed that a journalist had been added to a messaging group where his top officials were discussing operations.
What Is the Human Cost of the War in Yemen?
The war in Yemen has been devastating. Since it escalated 10 years ago, over 150,000 people have died. Around 4.8 million people have been forced to flee their homes, and 19.5 million people-half of Yemen’s population-are in need of humanitarian aid.
The Houthis control Sanaa and northwestern Yemen, including the Red Sea coastline, where most of Yemen’s population lives. They run, collect taxes, and print money. Despite efforts for a peace deal, fighting continues, and Yemen remains in crisis.
