Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Muskan Arora
US President Joe Biden announced successful military strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen on Friday, with support from the UK, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands. Over 12 locations, including the capital city of Sanaa and Hudaydah, were targeted. The sites struck by the military operations included logistical centers, air defence systems, and arms depots.
The Houthis, formally known as Ansar Allah, originated in the 1990s to oppose perceived corruption by then-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, backed by Saudi Arabia's military. They belong to Yemen's Shia Muslim minority, the Zaidis.
The Houthi rebels have been engaged in a civil war since 2014 against Yemen's government, receiving support from a coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The conflict has resulted in a significant death toll and displacement, as reported by the UN.
The Houthis declare allegiance to the Iranian-led "axis of resistance" against Israel, the US, and the West. They align themselves with groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, shaping their anti-Western stance.
The Houthis began targeting ships in the Red Sea after the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October. Their attacks intensified, leading to a 500% increase in November-December. Major shipping companies diverted vessels, fearing rising fuel prices and damaged supply chains.
The Houthi rebels' model themselves on Lebanon's Hezbollah, receiving extensive military expertise and training since 2014. They consider Iran an ally due to a common adversary in Saudi Arabia. The US accuses Iran of supplying weapons critical to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, a claim Iran denies.
While the official Yemeni government is based in Riyadh, the Houthi rebels control key areas, including Sanaa, the north, and the Red Sea coastline. They collect taxes, print money, and, according to the UN, had between 100,000 and 120,000 followers by 2010, comprising armed troops and unarmed supporters.