Who are the Houthis and why are they attacking ships in the Red Sea?

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels are increasing their attacks on ships in the Red Sea as retaliation against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. These attacks have led major shipping and oil companies to suspend transit through the region, which could have negative effects on the global economy. The Houthis, armed and trained by Iran, have the potential to escalate the conflict between Israel and Hamas into a wider regional war.

The Houthi movement, also known as Ansarallah, emerged in the 1990s as a religious revival movement for Zaidism, a subsect of Shia Islam. The Zaidis had been marginalized under the Sunni regime that took power after the 1962 civil war. The movement aimed to represent Zaidis and resist radical Sunnism, particularly Wahhabi ideas from Saudi Arabia. It gained popularity and became a threat to President Saleh, prompting him to issue an arrest warrant for the movement’s leader, Hussein al-Houthi. Al-Houthi was killed in 2004, but the movement continued to grow.

In 2011, the Houthis took control of the northern province of Saada and called for the end of President Saleh’s regime. Saleh agreed to hand power to his Vice President, but the new government was unpopular, leading the Houthis to seize parts of Yemen’s capital in 2014 and storm the presidential palace in 2015. Saudi Arabia then launched a war against the Houthis, which lasted for years and resulted in a devastating humanitarian crisis. Since the ceasefire, the Houthis have consolidated their control over northern Yemen and have sought a deal with Saudi Arabia to end the war.

The Houthis are backed by Iran and are part of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance,” along with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Recent attacks on Israel by these groups have raised concerns about the potential for a wider conflict. The Houthis have been improving their missile technology, causing disruptions in the Red Sea. These attacks have prompted major shipping companies to pause their operations in the region, leading to fears of a significant impact on the global economy.

The Houthis have stated that they will halt their attacks when Israel allows the entry of food and medicine into Gaza. These strikes could be aimed at inflicting economic pain on Israel’s allies, thereby pressuring Israel to stop its bombardment of Gaza. The Houthi attacks could also be an attempt to gain legitimacy at home and in the region as they seek control over northern Yemen. It could also give them an advantage over their Arab adversaries, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The attacks could potentially draw more countries into the conflict, with Israel warning that it is ready to act against the Houthis if the international community does not intervene.

The United States has announced the formation of a multinational naval task force to address the Houthi threat in the Red Sea. This development could potentially further involve the US in the Middle East. Overall, the Houthi rebels are becoming increasingly influential and cannot be ignored.