The increasing attacks by Yemen’s Houthis, an Iran-backed rebel group, in the Red Sea of the Gulf of Aden have adversely affected global trade as some of the world’s biggest shipping companies have announced to avoid the area.
Houthis of Yemen
The Houthis are an armed group originating from Yemen’s northwestern Saada province. The Houthis or Huthis have been attacking ships passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea ever since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
US has shot down four drones launched from Houthi-controlled areas which were headed towards a US destroyer in the Red Sea. The Houthis are an armed group originating from Yemen’s northwestern Saada province. They practice the Zaydi form of Shiism and take their name from the movement’s founder Hussein al Houthi. Reportedly, the group was formed in the 1990s to combat what they saw as the corruption of the then-president, Ali Abdullah Saleh. In 2003, Saleh tried to eliminate the Iran-backed group, however, the Houthis repelled him and Saudi Arabia’s military.
Notably, Houthis have control over a major part of Sanaa and the north of Yemen, as well as the Red Sea coastline.
Hezbollah Controls The Houthis
The Houthi rebels are controlled by Lebanon’s Hezbollah group who have been providing them with extensive military training since 2014.
Why Are The Houthis Attacking Ships In The Red Sea
The attacks began after the Israel-Hamas war when the Houthis declared their support for Hamas and said they would attack any ship travelling to Israel. Since then, they have attacked several commercial vessels with drones and ballistic missiles – even though it was not clear whether the ships were Israeli cargo. In retaliation to the attacks, the US military has launched an international naval operation to protect the ships in the region. Several other countries including the UK, Canada, France, Spain, Bahrain, and Norway have joined the operation.
