5:29 p.m. ET, February 3, 2024
Understanding the Houthis
By Christian Edwards, CNN
The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have stated that their attacks on ships in the Red Sea are in retaliation to Israel’s ongoing military action in Gaza. There are concerns that these attacks could widen Israel’s conflict with Hamas into a broader regional confrontation.
On Saturday, the US and UK targeted more than 30 Houthi locations throughout Yemen, with the US also intercepting six Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles that the group was planning to deploy against ships in the Red Sea, according to US officials.
Here’s what you need to know about this rebel group:
Civil war: The Houthi movement, also known as Ansarallah (Supporters of God), is one faction involved in the long-standing Yemeni civil war that began in 2014, when Houthi forces seized the capital Sanaa and ousted the internationally recognized, Saudi-backed government, instigating a civil conflict. This war has led to one of the most severe humanitarian crises globally, resulting in hundreds of thousands of fatalities and pushing parts of the country into famine.
Backed by Iran: The Houthis receive support from Iran, which intensified its assistance to the group in 2014 as the civil war escalated and its rivalry with Saudi Arabia heightened. Iran has supplied the group with weaponry and technology, including sea mines, ballistic and cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, or drones), as outlined in a 2021 report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Attacks on shipping: Despite not posing a significant threat to Israel, the Houthi’s technology can cause chaos in the Red Sea. Concerns have arisen that the Houthi drone and missile attacks on commercial ships, which have been occurring nearly every day since December 9, could result in a major disruption to the global economy. The Houthi strikes may be aimed at inflicting economic hardship on Israel’s allies with the goal of pressuring them to persuade Israel to halt its bombardment of Gaza. By championing the Palestinian cause, they may also be seeking to gain legitimacy domestically and regionally as they aim to gain control over northern Yemen. It could also provide them with an advantage over their Arab rivals, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, whom they accuse of being puppets of the US and Israel.
