War in Yemen | Global Conflict Tracker - Council on Foreign Relations Every evening, DW sends out a selection of the day's news and features. What are the Houthis' religious beliefs? The UN wants both parties to agree to place it under UN jurisdiction, which it says is the only way to alleviate Yemens cholera and malnutrition crises. The Zaidis, once a powerful force in north Yemen, were sidelined during the 1962-70 civil war and then further alienated in the 1980s as Salafist Sunni ideals gained prominence across the border in Saudi Arabia, which exported the ideology to Yemen. The Houthi movement, which had attracted support beyond its base with its criticisms of the UN transition, organized mass protests demanding lower fuel prices and a new government. Yemen's Houthis Went From Ragtag Militia to Force Threatening Gulf They charged Saleh with massive corruption to steal the wealth of the Arab worlds poorest country for his own family, much like other Arab dictators in Tunisia, Egypt, and Syria. After they allied with their former enemy Saleh, fearing their growing power, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with help from the US and UK, opened an air and ground war against them. Al Jazeera spoke to Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of Ansar Allahs political bureau, about the deepening crisis in Yemen, the Houthis endgame and the relationship with Tehran, the president, and al-Islah party. In 740, Zayd led an uprising against the Umayyad Empire, which ruled from Damascus. A supporter of the Shiite Houthi movement wears a headband with a photo of the movement's leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi during an anti-government demonstration in Sanaa in this Sept. 3, 2014 file photo. Houthi movement - Wikipedia Q&A: What do the Houthis want? | Houthis News | Al Jazeera [Khaled Abdullah/Reuters] The Houthi rebels' December 4 execution of Yemen's former President Ali Abdullah Saleh sent a massive shock across Yemen and the Middle East. Several presidential envoys failed to persuade the Houthi leader, Abdel Malek al-Houthi, to accept a peaceful arbitration. They have been able to persuade large numbers of Yemens armed forces to join them, allowing them to build up weaponry, according to Pieter Wezeman, a senior researcher with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. On September 21, Houthi fighters took control of all state institutions in Sanaa,overrunning an army brigade affiliated with al-Islah, Yemens Muslim Brotherhood party, making them effectively the power brokers in the country. Several confidence-building measures are being implemented that were previously lacking, including the evacuation of wounded Houthi fighters to Oman and a security guarantee from Kuwait for travelling Houthi politicians. Iranian and Hezbollah advisers would have to leave Yemen. ", "Editorial: Thousands Expected to die in 2010 in Fight against Al-Qaeda", "Yemen: Houthis Send Children into Battle", "Yemen is more nuanced than 'Sunni' & 'Shia', "Review: The Huthi Movement in Yemen: Ideology, Ambition, and Security in the Arab Gulf", "How the War in Yemen Became a Bloody Stalemate And the Worst Humanitarian Crisis in the World", "Houthi-Salafi Coexistence Agreements: Motives and Future Prospects", "In rare admission, Yemen's Houthis confirm they released Al-Qaeda terrorists", "Asia Times Asia's most trusted news source for the Middle East", "Hassan al-Homran, spokesperson for Ansar Allah", "Analysis: Iranian Reactions to Operation Decisive Storm", "Israel hails UAE deal but Palestinians and settlers dismayed", "Houthis under fire for arresting wedding singer in Yemeni capital", "Yemen minister says fate of country's last 50 Jews unknown", "Amid persecution, Yemeni Jews face extinction Jewish World Jerusalem Post", Houthis militants to Jews: Convert or leave Yemen, " ", " ", FAMILIAR BUT DISTINCT: Understanding the Houthi Ideology and its Consequences on Yemen, "Iran-backed Houthi rebels step up persecution of Baha'i (sic) minority in Yemen", "Yemen: Houthis Sentence Baha'i (sic) Man to Death", "Amnesty decries Houthi prosecution of Bahais in Yemen", "Meetings push government and Houthis closer towards "reconciliation", "Yemeni regime loses grip on four provinces", "Sana'a Cards to Pressurize Houthis to Enter New Dialogue Rounds", "Tens of thousands of Yemeni Houthis protest against fuel reform, government", "Coalition jets continue to hit Houthi targets in Yemen", "Radio becomes new battlefield in Yemen war", "Radio Station in War-Torn Yemen Raises $132,000 for Hezbollah", "Cablegate: Who Are the Houthis, Part Two: How Are They", "Saudi Arabia intercepts Houthi rebel missile fired towards Riyadh News DW 20.05.2017", "+ "1" | ", "Yemen Houthi drones, missiles defy years of Saudi air strikes", "Putin proposes Russian missile defence for Saudi after oil attack", "Analysis: Houthi naval attacks in the Red Sea", "Israel informed US it attacked Iran's Saviz ship in Red Sea as retaliation: NYT", "Iran replaces stricken Red Sea spy ship with new focus on oil tankers", "Navy: Saudi Frigate Attacked by Unmanned Bomb Boat, Likely Iranian", "Houthi Rebels Unveil Host of Weaponry, Compounding Drone and Missile Threat", "The Second Key Shift in the Military Balance: The Rising Impact of Iran's Asymmetric Forces", "Houthis increase use of suicide drone boats in recent weeks", "OPINION: Hormuz Strait Blockage Could Destroy IRGC Navy", "USS Mason Fired 3 Missiles to Defend From Yemen Cruise Missiles Attack", https://twitter.com/joshuakoontz__/status/1583526237237956608, "Iran-Saudi proxy war in Yemen explodes into region-wide crisis", "Al-Qaeda Fighting for Yemeni Government Against Houthi Shia Rebels", "Iranian ship unloads 185 tons of weapons for Houthis at Saleef port", "United states senate committee on foreign relations", "Houthi hysteria breaks out at the Wall Street Journal", "Kerry Says U.S. Who are the Houthis and why did they attack Abu Dhabi? The war costs Tehran a few million dollars per month, while it costs Riyadh $6 billion per month. By Peter. AJ: How would you define the Houthi movement and what is your endgame? U.S. military operations have focused instead on the influence of al Qaeda in Yemen, a breeding ground for Islamist militancy. For the Saudi king and his 29-year-old defense minister and son Prince Muhammad bin Salman (MBS), it was a nightmare. All rights reserved. It had origins in Houthi-led protests that began the previous month, and escalated when the Houthis stormed . FTO Designation for the Houthis Will Prolong War in Yemen - Foreign Policy The Houthis have now publicly threatened to fire on the headquarters of international companies in the UAE, in an apparent attempt to harm both business and tourism in the Emirates. They said the missiles did not come from areas under its control, said the Saba news agency, citing what it called a military source. Upgrade your experience by choosing It also throws a spotlight on a conflict that has dragged on for almost two years and threatens to play into a wider regional schism between Sunni and Shiite Islam. Back to Map War in Yemen By the Center for Preventive Action Updated June 23, 2023 A Yemeni government fighter fires a weapon at a frontline position during fighting against Houthi fighters in. The sectarian factor has never been an issue in deciding who we ally ourselves with. Who has to leave the Federal Reserve next? But who are the coalition fighting, and why has the war descended into a stalemate? (credit: KHALED ABDULLAH/REUTERS), Sign up for The Jerusalem Post Premium Plus for just $5, Upgrade your reading experience with an ad-free environment and exclusive content, Copyright 2023 Jpost Inc. All rights reserved, ballistic missile at the United Arab Emirates. Given the Houthi movements Shia religious identity and its hostility to the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the internationally recognized Yemeni government, it was all but inevitable that it would become an Iranian-backed proxy force, much like Hizbullah in Lebanon. Hussein was killed by Yemeni soldiers in 2004, and the group is now led by his brother Abdul Malik. The relationship between the Houthis and al-Islah is not at its best because of the wars that were waged against us which we believe al-Islah has been a primary party in, even if they deny this. It was temporary; the Houthis killed Saleh in December 2017 as he tried to switch sides again to join the Saudis. We're proud of the dozens of young students we've trained in our Press and Policy Student Program who will form the vanguard of the next generation of journalists to the benefit of countless millions of news readers. DW examines the group's history, activities and alliances. We thank our loyal readers and wish you all the happiest of holidays. This caused a Zaydi backlash, and the Houthi movement, named for leader Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi, emerged as its champion, promoting a revival of Zaydism along with hostility toward Saudi Arabia, the United States, and the government of unified Yemen. The al-Islah party has also been left out of the process. After morphing into a militia in the 2000s, they fought six rounds of war from 2004-2010 against then-President Saleh's forces, until the 2011 Arab Spring uprising toppled him. . Yet very few Americans know who the Houthis are, what they stand for, and why they are our de facto enemies. It may be wise for the international community to set its sights and goals on encouraging peace between the parts of Yemen, not on unification itself. We know what will happen if the Supreme Court strikes down affirmative action. Who are the Houthis? (STR/AFP via Getty Images), Wake up to the Trusted Mideast News source, By subscribing, you agree to The Media Line terms of use and. The Houthis adopted the slogan:God is great, death to the U.S., death to Israel, curse the Jews, and victory for Islam. The group also officially called itself Ansar Allah, or supporters of God. While the war in Yemen has had a broader regional dynamic, frequent references to the group by Saudi Arabia and its allies as a mere Iranian proxy do not tell the whole story. The Houthis emerged as a Zaydi resistance to Saleh and his corruption in the 1990s led by a charismatic leader named Hussein al Houthi, from whom they are named. The existing U.N. Verification and Inspections Mechanism for Yemen (UNVIM) should be greatly expanded in mission and personnel to provide inspectors at all Yemeni ports and airfields to ensure no major violations of the resolution are perpetrated by either side. The UN is now working overtime to ensure the success of new talks, which are supposed to take place in Sweden by the end of November. Even by the standards of Middle East politics, it was a remarkable and hypocritical reversal of alliances by both the Houthis and Saleh. The Houthis military success was aided by secret collusion with Saleh, who funded the group and provided support from an army unit that remained loyal to him and his family. In 2004, Salehs forces killed Hussein al-Houthi. War Without End In Yemen: Who Are The Houthi Rebels And What Do They Want Talks between the two sides halted Saudi airstrikes and paved the way for negotiations between the Houthis and Hadis government. Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for Yemen Roxane Bazargan (C), visits a site reported to be a prison destroyed in a Saudi-led airstrike in the Houthi stronghold of Sa'ada in northern Yemen, on Feb. 2, 2022. Who are the Houthis and why are they fighting the Saudi coalition in Additional resources Join the Hoover Institution's community of supporters in ideas advancing freedom. Their kingdom fought and lost a border war with Saudi Arabia in the 1930s, losing territory to the Saudi state. The Houthis emerged in the 1980s, forming a broad tribal alliance in Yemen's north based on a revival of Zaydism, a branch of Shia Islam, in opposition to an expanding Salafism. The Houthis opened direct civilian air traffic between Sanaa and Tehran, Iran promised cheap oil for Yemen, and rumors of more Iran-Houthi cooperation spread quickly. This caused a Zaydi backlash, and the Houthi movement, named for leader Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi, emerged as its champion, promoting a revival of Zaydism along with hostility toward Saudi Arabia, the United States, and the government of unified Yemen. The navy would be the least impacted because it has a more diverse number of sources for its warships, but it too would be in difficulty. Two administrations have backed the war against the Houthis without a serious campaign to explain why Americans should see them as our enemies. Its time to get serious about a political solution, not to wade deeper into quicksand. Can the United States, South Korea, and Japan boost resilience to economic coercion? This brief and simplified account of the background of the Houthis should underscore how complex Yemeni politics are and how volatile they can be. While it is part of who we are but it occupies a secondary role and is not a decisive factor. Yemen is burning. Hutchins Roundup: Child Tax Credit, cash for clunkers, and more. Peter Salisbury, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group told DW: "If Iran has been directly supporting the Houthis, as most people believe, it has been able to sustain at least a degree of plausible deniability. Gulf States Iran Saudi Arabia Yemen, Center for Middle East Policy Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology. Who are the Houthis? We, however, hope to have a new beginning with the party. Yemeni politics are incredibly complex and volatilerather than get drawn into a quagmire against an enemy they hardly know, the United States and its partners should get serious about finding a political solution. Iran is a regional foe of Saudi Arabia and continues to be a critic of the government in Riyadh and its bombing campaign in Yemen. Q&A: Who are the Houthi rebels of Yemen and what do they want? The movement (Arabic arakat) calls itself Anr Allh ("Defenders of God"); the popularized term "Houthi . He resides in Riyadh. They also called for the resignation of the cabinet and the implementation of the outcome of Yemens National Dialogue thats the process which ended the post-revolution violence. Professor Bernard Haykel of Princeton University, a noted expert on Yemen, addresses these questions and more, including potential avenues for resolving the unending conflict. The American invasion of Iraq in 2003 deeply radicalized the Houthi movement, like it did many other Arabs. Although some Houthi rhetoric has made claims to areas north of the Saudi border, their actions have mostly indicated aims within Yemen. By CNBCTV18.com Aug 31, 2021 8:56:41 PM IST (Published) The festering Yemeni conflict has often been described as a new age proxy war, with Shia Iran and its ally Hezbollah supporting the Zaidi-Shia Houthis, and Sunni Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan, Egypt and others supporting the Yemeni government. It is based in part on the authors forthcoming book America and the Yemens: A Tragic Encounter.. News | Houthis Q&A: What do the Houthis want? The Yemeni army and air force was used to suppress the rebellion in the far north of Yemen, especially in Saada province. He suggested that the cooperation could continue. Their name comes from Hussein Badr al-Din al-Houthi, who led an uprising in 2004 aimed at winning greater autonomy for provinces and protecting them from the perceived encroachment of Sunni Islam. Newly recruited Houthi soldiers march during the funeral of Houthi fighters killed during recent fighting against government forces, in Sanaa, Yemen, December 6, 2021. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have a disastrous Yemen strategy, Climate change, food insecurity, and migration in the Middle East, Migrants, Refugees & Internally Displaced Persons, Afghanistans twin human rights and humanitarian crises, Afghanistans crises require a clear statement of US policy, Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technology, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology. For over two decades, the Yemeni government and the Houthis have been locked in an ongoing conflict, with the involvement of various external players. A major consequence of the war is to push the Houthis and Iran and Hezbollah closer together. This would mean ending the Saudi blockade and airstrikes inside Yemen. U.S. missile attacks on targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on Thursday marked a new stage in the country's civil war and raised the prospect of deeper American involvement in the protracted conflict. However, NBC News British partner ITV News reported that U.S. and U.K.-made bombs had been used by Saudi Arabia in its aerial campaign including Saturdays attack on a funeral that killed 140 people and led to international condemnation. How will the Supreme Courts affirmative action ruling affect college admissions? When two years of national dialogue broke down, the Houthis ousted the new Saudi-backed Yemeni leader Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and took Sanaa. Popular protests and several assassination attempts forced Saleh to resign in 2012. We know what will happen if the Supreme Court strikes down affirmative action, Transitional justice and the prosecution of political leaders in the Arab region. Hezbollah, the Shiite movement in Lebanon which successfully expelled the Israeli army from the country, became a role model and mentor for the Houthis. Talks between the two sides halted Saudi airstrikes and paved the way for negotiations between the Houthis and Hadis government. It now threatens Israel with tens of thousands of missiles and drones. Backed by the US, the Saudi-led coalition have been their most recent and main enemy. What do the leaders of Yemen's Houthis want? - Al Jazeera The United Arab Emirates described the vessel as carrying humanitarian aid and having a crew of civilians, but Houthis said it was being used as a warship. The Houthis first loosely presented themselves as a resistance force that rose against a Yemeni military offensive in Saada and as a force of opposition to Salehs authoritarian regime. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley underscored that point, perhaps unintentionally, when she presented compelling evidence of Iranian support for the Houthis missile attacks on Saudi and Emirati targets last week. In 1962, an Egyptian-backed revolutionary military cabal overthrew the Mutawakkilite king and established an Arab nationalist government with its capital in Sanaa. The rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia is heating up across the Middle East. Given the Houthi movements Shia religious identity and its hostility to the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the internationally recognized Yemeni government, it was all but inevitable that it would become an Iranian-backed proxy force, much like Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Houthis won against both Saleh and the Saudi army, besting them both again and again. The war ended in a republican victory after the Saudis and Egyptians resolved their regional rivalry after the 1967 war with Israel and lost interest in the Yemen civil war. Zaydis believe he was a model of a pure caliph who should have ruled instead of the Umayyads. Yemen: Why is the war there getting more violent? - BBC News The Zaidis have felt for a long time that they were disaffected and ignored," said Robert McFadden, senior vice president at the . Hawthorne Heights - Is This What You Wanted? Lyrics | AZLyrics.com Iran is another source of support, especially since the Houthis and Iranians share a common enemy in Saudi Arabia. Who are the Houthis and what do they want? In short, they are a very different sect than the Iranian version of Shiism that Americans have come to know since the 1979 Iranian revolution. The sectarian factor has never been an issue in deciding who we ally ourselves with. It was a turning point largely unrecognized outside Yemen, another unanticipated consequence of George Bushs Iraq adventures. Salehs government, backed by the US and Saudi Arabia, increased the influence of the Saudi-linked Salafi and Wahhabi Sunni Muslims in northern Yemen, the traditional stronghold of the Zaydis, a Shia sect whose followers comprise about a quarter of Yemeni Muslims. Not all Zaidis are Houthis. - The Media Line Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for Yemen Roxane Bazargan (C), visits a site reported to be a prison destroyed in a Saudi-led airstrike in the Houthi stronghold of Sa'ada in northern Yemen, on Feb. 2, 2022. This is when Saudi Arabia decided to intervene, forming the Decisive Storm coalition with the UAE and additional Arab states among them: Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt and Jordan. They do not want a deal that leaves them financially beholden to Riyadh, which . The Biden administration on Tuesday officially lifted the designation of the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen as a global terrorist organization. Tehran and the Houthis are playing with fire, of course. The Saudi army and national guard would also be crippled. Many accuse Houthis of undermining the president and even working to oust him? Backs Saudi-Led Yemeni Bombing With Logistics, Spying", ": 3 ", "How did Yemen's Houthi-Saleh alliance collapse? Both Iran and the Houthis deny the charge. Saleh broke with his putative ally this month, signaled to Riyadh that he was flipping sides again, and was killed days later. Their capital was in Taiz. Dealing with the Houthis will not be easy after the war. Even by the standards of Middle East politics, it was a remarkable and hypocritical reversal of alliances by both the Houthis and Saleh. No single policy is likely to bring peace to Yemen. The administration has recently called for an easing of the blockade.
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