Houthi Movement

The Houthis are the de facto ruling faction in Yemen’s central government and are now widely perceived as having substantial Iranian backing. The group’s political party, Ansar Allah, was established in the post–Arab Spring environment. The movement traces its roots to a Zaydi revivalist movement in the 1990s. It is led by the Houthi family, from which the movement’s name came, and militarized increasingly between 2004 and 2010 during the Sa’ada wars. Stated Houthi objectives include reparations for the damage during the Sa’ada wars, representation within the central government, and guarantees that the group will be protected from future political and economic marginalization. Not all Zaydi Shi’a in Yemen identify with the Houthi movement.

Show Less

The Houthis are the de facto ruling faction in Yemen’s central government and are now widely perceived as having substantial Iranian back... Show More