The Houthis have been embroiled in a civil war for over a decade and are now under attack by the United States. An intensified US bombing campaign on Yemen began on Saturday night, potentially reigniting tensions that had eased with the Gaza ceasefire. The Houthis ceased attacks on Red Sea ships in January after the Gaza ceasefire began but warned in early March that they would resume targeting Israeli vessels if Israel didn’t lift the blockade preventing humanitarian aid from entering Gaza.
Aligned with Iran, the Houthis control much of northwestern Yemen, the most densely populated part of the country. Although the conflict between the Houthis, the Yemeni government, and other factions has largely been stagnant, the group drew international attention for its attacks on Israel and Red Sea shipping following the outbreak of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023. Here’s what you need to know about the Yemeni fighters at the center of this latest conflict. The US struck Yemen’s Houthis for the first time during Donald Trump’s second term on Saturday night, potentially reviving a crisis that had settled with the Gaza ceasefire.
Who are the Houthis?
The Houthis, also referred to as Ansar Allah (supporters of God), are an armed faction that holds power over most of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, and parts of the west and north near Saudi Arabia. The group originated in the 1990s but rose to global attention in 2014 when it staged a rebellion against Yemen’s government, leading to its collapse and sparking a severe humanitarian crisis. Backed by Iran, the Houthis spent years battling a Saudi-led military coalition. Despite Iran’s support, analysts argue that the group operates independently, pursuing its own goals and ambitions.
What is the current state of Yemen’s civil war?
Yemen’s civil war has persisted for over ten years, with the Houthis maintaining control over several regions, including Sanaa. While the group has been engaged in ceasefire negotiations with Saudi Arabia, Yemen’s official government is based in Aden, led by President Rashad al-Alimi. Al-Alimi assumed office in 2022 after the previous president, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, transferred power to him. The relationship between Hadi and the Houthis had been particularly hostile. Although the conflict has remained stagnant since 2022, sporadic troop movements and clashes have occurred. Meanwhile, 19.5 million people — around 56% of Yemen’s 35 million population — are expected to require humanitarian aid in 2025, marking a rise of over 1 million from the previous year.
Why did the Houthis target ships in the Red Sea?
The Houthis claimed their attacks on commercial and military ships linked to Israel were intended to pressure Israel into ending its war on Gaza. On 18 November 2023, the group seized a cargo ship named the Galaxy Leader, later transforming it into a tourist attraction for Yemenis. “We’ve made it clear that our actions aim to support the Palestinian people in Gaza and that we cannot stand idle in the face of aggression and blockade,” Houthi chief negotiator and spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam told Al Jazeera in December 2023. The Houthis also launched multiple missile and drone attacks against Israel, with some hitting their targets.
In response, the US, UK, and Israel carried out airstrikes on Yemen, resulting in dozens of deaths. In January 2024, the US and UK began targeting Houthi positions, while Israel conducted its own strikes. These strikes paused after the January ceasefire began, but the US resumed its bombing campaign on Saturday. “To all Houthi terrorists, YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY. IF THEY DON’T, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!” US President Donald Trump declared in a social media post. The Houthis, for their part, have demanded Israel allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. On 7 March, Houthi leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi issued a four-day ultimatum for Israel to permit aid delivery, threatening to block Israeli ships in the Red and Arabian Seas if the demand wasn’t met. The deadline passed without any public declaration from the Houthis regarding further attacks on vessels in those waters.
Could the attacks undermine Houthi control in Yemen?
In January 2024, analysts suggested that foreign airstrikes against the Houthis had strengthened their leadership and boosted public support. The attacks also benefited the Houthis by fuelling domestic recruitment, capitalizing on widespread sympathy for Gaza. Moreover, the strikes compelled other nations to negotiate with the group, indirectly legitimizing their authority despite their lack of official recognition as Yemen’s government. Whether the latest US airstrikes will significantly weaken the Houthis remains uncertain, as the group has weathered similar assaults in the past.
Will the recent escalation jeopardize Yemen’s fragile peace?
It’s unclear, as fighting has been relatively quiet since 2022. In late December 2023, the United Nations reported significant progress in peace talks. However, experts cautioned that continued Houthi activities in the Red Sea could derail the negotiations, potentially provoking a US military response that might “unravel the fragile ceasefire.” So far, that hasn’t triggered renewed internal fighting. However, Trump’s airstrikes have been described as more indiscriminate compared to those ordered by the Biden administration. While peace negotiations between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia seemed close to completion, Yemen’s official government and other anti-Houthi factions expressed frustration over being sidelined. They warned that any agreement failing to resolve the underlying conflict would only lead to future violence.