The Houthis began as theologically moderate in Yemen
Their first organization, the Believing Youth, was founded in 1992 in Saada Governorate by either Mohammed al-Houthi, or his brother, Hussein al-Houthi.
By 1994-95, 15k-20k students had attended camps that included lectures by Mohammed Hussein Fadhlallah (a Lebanese Shia scholar) and Hassan Nasrallah (Secretary General of Hezbollah).
In 2004, 800 BY supporters were arrested in Sanaa. Saleh invited Hussein al-Houthi to a meeting in Sana’a, but he declined and was killed on the 10th of September, 2004, by Saleh’s forces after a failed insurgency.
They participated in the 2011 Yemeni Revolution against Saleh’s administration.
By May 2012, Houthis were in control of three governorates and were erecting barricades north of Sana’a.
By September 2014, Houthis were said to control part of Sana’a.
On January 20th, 2015, Houthi rebels seized the presidential palace, then deposed the president and dissolved parliament on February 6th.
On the 20th of March, al-Badr and al-Hashoosh mosques came under suicide attack by ISIS, killing 142 Houthi worshippers and wounding more than 351, the deadliest terrorist attack in Yemen history.
Saleh and the Houthi alliance broke down in late 2017, with the Houthis killing him on the 4th of December of the same year.
On January 17th, 2022, Houthi missile and drone attacks on UAE industrial targets killed 3 foreign workers. Saudi Arabia launched an airstrike on January 21st against a detention center in Yemen in response, killing at least 70.
Membership and ranks
They have lots of people.
Ideology
The Houthis have a wide variety of religious and political influences. They seem mainly to stand in opposition to the corruption of earlier governments, and will vary their alliances opportunistically.
In 2015, Newsweek reported that the Houthis are fighting for “for things that all Yemenis crave: government accountability, the end to corruption, regular utilities, fair fuel prices, job opportunities for ordinary Yemenis and the end of Western influence.”
The Houthis have rejected portrayals that they are trying to restore the old Zaydi imamate.
Sometimes the Houthis ally with Sunnis, other times they oppress them. :o
The Houthis have a very unique interpretation of Islam that puts them in conflict with the other sects of Islam, even other Shi’ites/Zaydi traditionalists.
Houthis have fought with Salafis and later aligned with them depending on conditions. Originally they “crushed” the Salafi community/al-Qaeda presence in Saada Governate, but between 2014-2019 the Houthi leadership have signed multiple co-existence agreements with the Salafi community.
The Houthis have their own women security force and a Girl Scouts wing. Others claim that Houthis harass women and restrict their freedoms of movement and expression.
Abu Ali Abdullah al-Hakem al-Houthi – military commander
Saleh Habra – political leader
Fares Mana’a – Houthi-appointed governor of Sa’dah, and former head of Saleh’s presidential committee
Activism and tactics
The Houthis have a “wide-tent” approach where they try to make fighting political corruption the center-piece of their political program.
The Houthis are said to have “a huge and well-oiled propaganda machine”. They have established “a formidable media arm” with the Lebanese Hezbollah’s technical support.
Armed strength
The Houthis produce short-range ballistic missiles and launch them into Saudi Arabia.
They receive a lot of naval support and anti-naval weaponry from Iran, as well as converting many old Yemeni military ships to improvised explosive vessels.
Alleged Iranian and North Korean support
North Korea likely supplied the missiles launched towards Israel to the Houthis in January 2024.
Iran likely provides cash, weapons, ballistic missiles and training support for Houthis.
Alleged human rights violations
Children as young as 13 have been arrested for “indecent acts” relating to homosexuality
People are arrested for “political cases”
Minors are housed with adult prisoners and are likely subject to rape.
UNICEF claims that up to a third of all fighters in Yemen are comprised of child soldiers.
Use of human shields.
Use of hostage-taken for profits.
The UN World Food Program and the Norwegian Refugee Council both claim that the Houthis hamper food delivery to people on the brink of starvation.
UN-funded investigators found evidence of sexual violence against young girls and the recruitment of boys as young as seven years old.
UN Panel of Experts on Yemen discovered instances where Houthis would force women into prostitution for information gathering purposes.
Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen
As of 2020, they control almost all of North Yemen.