📚The TL;DR📝

1. Yemen: 32,140,443 people, GDP of $73.63 billion, neighbors Oman and Saudi Arabia. Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council: Rashad Muhammad al-Alimi since 2022.

2. The civil war in Yemen began in 2014, with violent conflicts between the Houthi movement and the Yemeni government beginning as early as 2004.

3. The civil war has had significant humanitarian consequences, leaving millions displaced, over 200,000 dead, and a collapsed economy, crippling key sectors such as agriculture, oil production, and infrastructure, leading to widespread poverty, high unemployment, and high inflation.

4. Yemen is a proxy ground for an ongoing conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Saudi Arabia has been providing support to the Yemeni government while Iran has been providing the Houthis with training and weapons.

5. Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes, particularly the Suez Canal, have escalated tensions and have prompted international military responses from the United States and its allies.

📌The Houthis: How Yemeni Rebels Disrupted 15% of Global Trade📌

On March 15, 2025, the United States deployed a second carrier strike group, led by the flagship USS Carl Vinson, to the Middle East to bolster its military presence amid rising tensions with the Houthis. Around the same time, leaked Signal chats among senior U.S. officials provided the exact times of warplane launches before airstrikes on Yemen’s Houthis took place. The unclassified Signal chat included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. The airstrikes ordered by the Trump administration targeted Houthi military bases, command centers, weapon storage, and naval forces, reportedly killing 53 and injuring 98 Houthi militants.

Why is the U.S. so interested in Yemeni rebels? The answer comes from the Yemeni Civil War, a tragedy rooted in the country’s bitter ethnic and religious strife. A modern Yemeni republic was formed in 1962 after the Zaydi-led Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen was overthrown. The new government, influenced by pan-Arab and Sunni ideology, sought to diminish Zaydi political influence. Zaydi Islam is a branch of Shi’a Islam that emphasizes political activism. Zaydis believe that any knowledgeable descendant of Hasan or Husayn who leads a rebellion against tyranny can be a legitimate Imam. They share some theological similarities with Sunnis and ruled North Yemen for nearly 1,000 years until the Imamate's fall in 1962. North Yemen gained independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1918, while South Yemen remained a British colony until 1967. The two states unified in 1990, but deep political, religious, and regional divisions persisted, fueling later conflicts. 

In 1992, Hussain al Houthi, a cleric and politician, and other Zaydi Shi’a rebels founded “Believing Youth” to revive Zaydi Shi’a traditions and resist political marginalization. In 2004, the name was changed to “Ansar Allah,” or “the Houthis," as tensions with the Yemeni government escalated. Under Hussein al Houthi’s leadership, the group became increasingly militarily and politically active. The Houthis' early rebellions against the Yemeni government, their role in the 2011 revolution and Yemeni Civil War, and their eventual takeover of Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, have defined their critical role in the Middle East. The Houthis' hostilities toward Israel, their confrontation with Saudi Arabia, their connections to Iran, and their recent disputes with the United States underscore their growing influence. To understand the broader tensions facing the Middle East today, we have to understand the Houthi threat.

Indiscriminate bombings and blockades have left over 230,000 dead, and millions have been left on the brink of starvation. Additionally, the Houthis’ attacks on international shipping lanes, specifically the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, which handle 15% of global trade, have cost billions in economic losses and have forced major shipping companies to reroute their vessels. Moreover, Middle Eastern oil and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports to Europe have been disrupted due to the ongoing conflict, shipments through the Suez Canal decreased by almost 90% year-on-year for the period covering January to September 2024.

The Houthis’ Roots

After a long, divisive history between the North and the South, Yemen was reunified in 1990. North Yemen’s leader, Ali Abdullah Saleh, a Zaydi republican general, became the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen’s president. Southern Yemen housed Sunni Muslims, and the North was predominantly Zaydi Shi’a. Saleh had complicated relations with the United States and Saudi Arabia after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, because of his close relations with Saddam Hussein. Their alliance convinced the Saudis that Yemen was covertly conspiring with Iraq to divide their territory and reclaim land lost to Saudi Arabia in a 1934 war. President George H.W. Bush supported the Saudis, who cut off aid and economic ties, effectively isolating Yemen. Yet Yemen’s stance against al-Qaeda in the late 1990s drew the Clinton administration and the Saudis closer to Saleh. 

Hussein al-Houthi, the Houthis namesake and the organization’s founder, framed the movement’s goal as Zaydi resistance against the corrupt President Saleh. The Houthis blamed Saleh for stealing money from the Arab world, fueling their criticism of the U.S. and Saudi Arabia for their support of him. In June 2004, the Houthis launched an armed rebellion against Saleh and his government that prompted a military response from the Yemeni armed forces. Clashes between the two erupted in the northern Saada region, killing al-Houthi and hundreds of others. 

Al-Houthi’s death intensified hostilities by prompting six rounds of war between 2004 and 2010. During this time, the government attempted to weaken the Houthis. They arrested suspected Houthi sympathizers, heavily bombarding Saana, and imposed blockades on Houthi-controlled areas, prevented families from leaving for over a year and forced them to remain under siege, according to a Houthi spokesman. Famously, the government launched a massive military assault, known as Operation Scorched Earth, using heavy artillery, airstrikes, and ground troops to target Houthi strongholds. 

Yet, despite the government's efforts, the Houthis only became stronger, emerging as a formidable military and political force in Yemen. The group learned military tactics and gained support from the Zaydi Shi’a population and other marginalized communities and tribes, like the Tihama people and Hashemites. These groups resented their diminished political influence and the government’s economic neglect. 

The Houthis’ Role in the 2011 Yemeni Revolution

During the 2011 Arab Spring, the Houthis participated in nationwide protests against Saleh’s government, presenting themselves as a legitimate political movement seeking national change. Saleh stepped down after receiving immunity from prosecution, bending to public outcry and international pressure.

Saleh’s vice president, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, took power under a transition plan brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), an organization of Persian Gulf countries led by Saudi Arabia and supported by the United States. The GCC oversaw a UN-sponsored National Dialogue Conference (NDC) in 2013 to draft a new Yemeni constitution. The conference included delegates from a variety of political factions, including the Houthis. The conference sought to establish a new, inclusive government and prevent further instability by addressing political and structural issues.

The GCC plan failed due to its inability to address Yemen's complex political landscape, sidelining the Houthis and implementing reforms perceived as detrimental to their interests. A key part of the proposal—to divide Yemen into six federal regions—left the Houthis and southern separatists feeling neglected, fearing it would weaken their regional influence. At the same time, newly instated President Hadi was leading a politically corrupt government that weakened the transition of power, causing widespread distrust. 

From Protest to Civil War

The Houthis capitalized on widespread discontent, positioning themselves as defenders of the people against the government’s mismanagement. This message resonated with many Yemenis, particularly after the government cut fuel subsidies, enraging the populace. 

To combat the new government, the Houthis formed an alliance in 2014 with their old enemy President Saleh, sharing key objectives. They both opposed President Hadi and the GCC transition plan; the Houthis saw Hadi as weak and a threat to their influence, while Saleh sought revenge on his former deputy. Saleh’s influence over the military gave him the ability to undermine the government’s authority. By taking advantage of Saleh’s connections, the Houthis would have access to military weaponry and expand their control beyond their strongholds in Sanaa. His ties, combined with the Houthis’ guerrilla warfare expertise, made their coalition powerful. 

In September 2014, the Houthis, backed by Saleh, stormed out of the neighborhoods they controlled and took over all of Sanaa. Within a few days, they had seized government institutions, military bases, the international airport, and the central bank, forcing Hadi to agree to the Peace and National Partnership Agreement (PNPA). The UN-brokered deal formally recognized the Houthis as a political force, increasing their representation in the government. PNPA also called for the appointment of a new prime minister and for the Houthi fighters to withdraw from Sanaa, which they never complied with.

By February 2015, the Houthis had placed Hadi under house arrest, dissolved parliament, and took control of the country. In March, Hadi had escaped and fled to Aden, formerly Southern Yemen’s capital. Shortly thereafter, Hadi proclaimed Aden as Yemen’s temporary capital until he could return to Sanaa, deeming the Houthi takeover as illegitimate. In a statement, Hadi claimed he is still Yemen’s president and any decision made by the Houthis since their takeover was illegal.

Regional Powers Clash in Yemen

In an attempt to capture President Hadi, the Houthis advanced toward Aden, a port city in Southern Yemen, launching a military offensive in southern Yemen in March 2015. They had quickly captured Taiz, Yemen’s third-largest city, and moved toward Aden, Hadi’s last stronghold, causing him to flee to Saudi Arabia and request GCC assistance against the Houthis. 

Saudi Arabia launched Operation Decisive Storm, leading an Arab state coalition, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Sudan. The operation catapulted the Yemeni Civil War and escalated the regional conflict to a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran, who have supported the Houthis by providing weapons, training, and financial support. 

The Saudi-led coalition directed heavy bombing campaigns targeting the Houthis military bases and infrastructures across Yemen. A naval and air blockade was also imposed by the coalition to prevent the flow of weapons reaching the Houthis. The UAE was a central actor in ground operations, particularly in the south, where they recaptured Aden in July 2015.

The intervention had catastrophic humanitarian consequences, leaving over 230,000 dead, mostly due to starvation, insufficient health services, and destroyed infrastructure. 

The Houthis’ Expanding Influence

The Saudis failed to defeat the Houthis, and in 2022 and 2023, negotiations facilitated by Oman and the UN have led to temporary ceasefires and de-escalation talks. Since the October 7th attacks in Israel, the Houthis have expanded their involvement in regional conflicts, aligning themselves with Hamas in support of the Palestinian cause.

In an attempt to pressure Israel into ceasing military activity in Gaza, the Houthis have launched missile and drone assaults targeting Israeli territories and disrupted maritime activity in the Red Sea, reportedly attacking over 100 merchant vessels between November 2023 and January 2024.

The escalation prompted reactions from the United States and other countries. In March 2025, the U.S. deployed a second aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, to the Middle East to bolster its military presence amid rising tensions with the Houthis. The Trump administration ordered strikes against Houthi military bases, command centers, weapon storage, and naval forces, reportedly killing 53 and injuring 98 Houthi militants. Despite international pressure, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the current leader of the Houthi movement, has remained defiant.

Global Repercussions

The conflict in Yemen has been one of the most devastating conflicts in the 21st century. Indiscriminate bombings and blockades have left millions on the brink of starvation and over 230,000 dead. The Saudi-led coalition Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) was established to investigate the allegations of war crimes and violations of international law. Many human rights organizations have criticized JIAT for failing to provide an impartial and transparent investigation into the allegations and downplaying incidents with mass civilian casualties. 

The impacts of the war have stretched far beyond Yemen. The Red Sea and the Suez Canal, the shortest trade route between Asia and Europe, handle 15% of global trade. The Houthis’ attacks on international shipping lanes have cost billions in economic losses and forced major shipping companies to reroute their vessels. Instead, companies have had to reroute their ships around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, which adds ten days to delivery times, impacting U.S. businesses with limited inventory. The higher shipping costs contribute to higher prices and inflation for American consumers. Global energy flows have also been disrupted due to the ongoing conflict, particularly Middle Eastern oil and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports, which are key to Europe’s energy supply. Reduced energy exports, coupled with logistical difficulties in distributing goods, have impacted both energy prices and the broader global economy.

Recent military actions from the U.S. and its allies have impacted global trade routes and will potentially increase prices globally. Nevertheless, with the United States re-orienting its foreign policy priorities toward confronting China and the Iranian government struggling to project power and manage its proxies, the degree of foreign interest in the Houthis will likely wane. When the Trump administration decided to strike the Houthis, White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller argued that there needed to be “further economic gain” extracted in exchange for American action.

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