The Houthi Movement: Rise and Ideology
From a local revolt to a regional force
A detailed analysis of the Houthi movement, its origins, ideology, military capacity, and attacks on maritime traffic.
Origin and evolution
The Houthi movement, formally known as Ansar Allah, began in the 1990s as a Zaydi religious and political revival movement in northern Yemen. It developed from a regional protest current into a governing and military force by exploiting state weakness and local grievances.
Ideology
The movement draws on Zaydi Shiite identity and borrows language and symbolism from Iran's revolutionary model. Its slogans and political style are strongly anti-Western and anti-Israel, which helps explain its alignment with the wider axis of resistance.
Military capabilities
The Houthis evolved from a militia into a force with ballistic missiles, drones, and cruise missiles, much of it supplied or adapted with Iranian help. That arsenal has allowed them to threaten targets deep inside Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and to shape regional security calculations.
Attacks on shipping
Since 2023, the Houthis have targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea, presenting the campaign as support for Gaza. The attacks disrupted global shipping routes, drew in US and allied military responses, and turned the movement into a global trade security issue.
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