51吃瓜

The , formally known as Ansar Allah, originated in Yemen鈥檚 north in the 1990s as a revivalist group. Initially framed around protecting religious and cultural identity, the group gradually transformed into a military and political force in large parts of northern Yemen.

In September 2014, the Houthis carried out a coup d鈥櫭﹖at, seizing the capital Sanaa and overthrowing Yemen鈥檚 internationally recognized government. By early 2015, they had dissolved parliament and declared themselves the ruling authority, claiming they had a divine right to govern. Their sudden rise triggered a regional intervention led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

That same year, the Houthis attempted to extend their control into South Yemen, advancing on . However, the Southern Resistance Movement pushed them back with help from the Arab Coalition during the . The defeat prevented them from consolidating nationwide control and set the stage for a prolonged civil war, which continues today with heavy civilian casualties and devastation of infrastructure.

Iran and the Houthis: A strategic partnership

The Houthis鈥檚 endurance has been made possible in large part due to . Tehran has supplied the group with advanced drones, missiles, training and intelligence through the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps () and . While not sharing identical religious doctrine 鈥� Zaydi versus Twelver Shi鈥檌sm 鈥� their partnership is strategic, not theological.

Iran uses the Houthis as a proxy force to exert influence across the Red Sea and pressure Saudi Arabia and Israel. Analysts note that after the of Hezbollah in Lebanon and the of Syria鈥檚 Assad regime as a reliable ally, the Houthis remain one of Iran鈥檚 last strong partners in the Middle East.

This alignment has pulled Yemen deeper into regional geopolitics, linking its internal war with the larger Iran鈥揑srael鈥揋ulf rivalry.

Escalation with Israel

Since 2023, the Houthis have as defenders of Gaza, launching missile and drone attacks toward Israel and against Israeli-linked shipping in the Red Sea.

Israel escalated in response. In late August 2025, an Israeli airstrike in Sanaa Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed Ghaleb al-Rahawi along with several senior officials 鈥� one of the most high-profile assassinations of the war. Tens of thousands the funerals, chanting against the US and Israel. The Houthis vowed revenge, but the strike also ignited domestic debate over whether the group鈥檚 regional adventurism is dragging Yemen into yet another war.

Crackdown and humanitarian fallout

In the days following the strike, Houthi forces UN offices in Sanaa and Hodeidah, detaining at least 11 aid workers from agencies including the World Food Program (WFP), the UN International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The arrests further disrupted humanitarian operations in a country where millions rely on foreign aid.

The UN condemned the detentions, demanding 鈥渋mmediate and unconditional release.鈥� Critics argue that the crackdown reflects the Houthis鈥檚 increasing authoritarianism as their domestic legitimacy falters.

A nation on the brink

The Houthis鈥檚 鈥� that Yemen is under siege because they support Gaza 鈥� has long helped them rally domestic backing. But this strategy is losing potency. Many Yemenis now argue the group is sacrificing national interests for political theater, plunging an already shattered country into deeper chaos.

Economically, the Houthis face growing fragility. With the war Yemen鈥檚 economy, further military adventurism could undermine the Houthis鈥檚 ability to maintain control over their northern stronghold, held since 2014.

For Yemenis, the consequences are stark: renewed conflict, worsening humanitarian strain and the risk of complete state collapse. What began as a local insurgency has now drawn in Iran, Israel and regional powers, making Yemen鈥檚 crisis a fault line of Middle Eastern geopolitics.

[ edited this piece.]

The views expressed in this article are the author鈥檚 own and do not necessarily reflect 51吃瓜鈥檚 editorial policy.