The Yemeni Houthi group has intensified its role in the Middle Eastern conflict by targeting ships in the southern Red Sea in attacks that the Iran-aligned group claims are aimed at supporting Palestinians amid the war between Israel and Hamas. The U.S. military announced on Sunday that three commercial ships were attacked in international waters in the southern Red Sea. The U.S. Central Command reported that an American destroyer received a distress call and provided assistance after missiles and drones were launched from Houthi-controlled territory.
Here are some details about the Houthis:
* **History**
In the late 1990s, the Houthi family in northern Yemen established a revivalist movement for the Zaidi Shia sect, which once ruled Yemen but from whose base in the north had suffered marginalization and poverty. With rising tensions with the government, the Houthis engaged in a series of guerrilla wars against the national army and entered a brief border conflict with Saudi Arabia.
* **War in Yemen**
The war began in late 2014 when the Houthis captured Sana'a. Concerned about the growing influence of Iran near its borders, Saudi Arabia intervened in March 2015 at the head of a U.S.-backed coalition to support the Saudi-backed government. The Houthis took control of a large part of the north and other major urban centers, while the internationally recognized government set up base in Aden. Yemen experienced over a year of relative calm amid U.N.-led peace efforts. Saudi Arabia has been in talks with the Houthis in an attempt to exit the war. However, Houthi attacks against Israel have increased the conflict's risks for Saudi Arabia.
* **Military Arsenal**
The Houthi arsenal includes ballistic missiles and armed drones capable of striking Israel from over a thousand miles away from Sana'a. On October 31, a military spokesman for the Houthis stated that the group launched "a large number" of ballistic missiles and drones at Israel. The group has built a massive stockpile of weapons showcased in a display in September, demonstrating a challenge after nearly a decade of conflict with the Saudi-led coalition. Experts note that the Houthis' missiles, including types like Toofan, Burkan, and Quds, resemble Iranian weapons. These missiles can strike targets up to 2,000 kilometers away. The Houthis have launched such missiles at Saudi Arabia dozens of times during the Yemen war. In September, the Houthis unveiled the Barq-2 anti-aircraft missiles, naval missiles, a MiG-29 fighter jet, and helicopters for the first time. The Houthis have also used fast boats armed with machine guns in maritime operations.
* **Involvement in Middle Eastern War**
The Houthis declared their engagement in the conflict on October 31, stating that they launched drones and missiles at Israel and vowed to continue attacks "until Israeli aggression stops." The Houthis, part of a regional alliance known as the "Axis of Resistance" supported by Iran, have rallied behind the Palestinians since Hamas attacked Israel. The Houthis' slogan is "Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse on the Jews, Victory to Islam."
* **Links with Iran**
The Saudi-led coalition accuses Iran of arming, training, and financing the Houthis. The group denies being an Iranian proxy, asserting that it develops its weapons independently. The Houthis showcased their missile and drone capabilities during the Yemen war in attacks against Saudi Arabia and the UAE targeting oil facilities and critical infrastructure. The U.S. military stated on Sunday that it has every reason to believe that the attacks on commercial vessels were "fully enabled" by Iran.
