Houthi movement

The Houthi movement, officially known as Ansar Allah, is a Zaydi Shiite Islamist insurgent group based in Yemen that has evolved into a formidable military and political force. Originating in northern Yemen, the group adheres to Zaydism—a branch of Shia Islam unique to the region—and recognizes Abdul Malik al-Houthi as its supreme religious and political authority. The movement rose to national prominence during the post-Arab Spring instability, culminating in the 2014 seizure of the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and the subsequent ousting of the internationally recognized government in 2015 captured Sanaa in 2014.

As a central component of the Iran-led "Axis of Resistance," the Houthis maintain a strategic, albeit complex, relationship with Tehran. They receive extensive support from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF), including training, ballistic missiles, drones, and other weaponry Iran provided the Houthis with training…. While often categorized as an Iranian proxy alongside groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, the Houthis are not politically beholden to Tehran in the same manner as other regional affiliates not politically beholden to Iran. They have demonstrated increasing autonomy by developing independent supply chains, sourcing materials from China and the Horn of Africa, and establishing on-site manufacturing capabilities for drone and missile components Houthis diversify drone sources.

The movement’s military doctrine emphasizes asymmetric warfare. By controlling significant portions of northern Yemen and the coastline along the Bab al-Mandeb Strait—a vital maritime chokepoint through which approximately 12% of global trade passes—the Houthis have gained significant leverage The Bab al-Mandab Strait, which is controlled…. They have utilized this position to disrupt global shipping, launching drones and missiles at commercial vessels in solidarity with Palestinians following the outbreak of the war in Gaza disrupt global trade via drones/missiles. Their arsenal, which includes Borkan-2H ballistic missiles, has also been used to target Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel The Houthis have used Borkan-2H….

The significance of the Houthi movement lies in its resilience against sustained international military pressure. Despite a years-long, U.S.-backed Saudi-led bombing campaign and subsequent direct military strikes by the United States and its allies, the group has maintained its territorial control and operational capacity The Houthis survived a years-long bombing…. The United States has designated the group as a foreign terrorist organization and imposed extensive sanctions on its leadership and financial networks to curb its influence The United States has re-designated….

The movement’s future remains a subject of debate among analysts. While some observers point to signs of "survival mode" and the potential for internal collapse or strategic realignment, others emphasize the group's persistence and its role as a permanent fixture in regional security dynamics Houthis in survival mode. The Houthis continue to navigate a pragmatic path, balancing their ideological commitment—exemplified by their motto, "God is great, death to America, death to Israel, curse on the Jews, victory to Islam"—with the tactical necessity of managing humanitarian crises and negotiating potential detentes with regional rivals like Saudi Arabia Houthi movement's anti-US motto.