Who Are The Houthis In Yemen Why Are They Getting Involved In The Israel-Hamas War?

US & UK Launched Strikes Aimed At Houthi Groups In Yemen On January 11, In Response To The Persistent Houthi Attacks On Ships Passing Through The Red Sea, The Narrow...

Zaheer Hussain
January 13, 2024
109

Zaheer Hussain
January 13, 2024
109

US & UK Launched Strikes Aimed At Houthi Groups In Yemen On January 11, In Response To The Persistent Houthi Attacks On Ships Passing Through The Red Sea, The Narrow Body Of Water That Separates Asia From Africa, And Which Is One Of The World’s Busiest And Most Important Maritime Trade Routes.

Who Are The Houthis In Yemen: Why Are They Getting Involved In The Israel-Hamas War?

Why In The News?

US & UK Launched Strikes Aimed At Houthi Groups In Yemen On January 11, In Response To The Persistent Houthi Attacks On Ships Passing Through The Red Sea, The Narrow Body Of Water That Separates Asia From Africa, And Which Is One Of The World’s Busiest And Most Important Maritime Trade Routes.
Since November 2023, The Houthis Have Attacked Ships In The Red Sea And Gulf Of Aden To Protest The Israeli Military’s Continuing Bombardment Of Gaza. After Hamas, The Palestinian Militant Group, Launched An Attack Against Israel On October 7, Israel Retaliated With A Disproportionately Heavy Hand.

Why Have US & UK Launched Strikes?

On January 11, President Joe Biden Said In A Statement That The Strikes Were Conducted With Support From Australia, Bahrain, Canada, And The Netherlands “Against A Number Of Targets In Yemen Used By Houthi Rebels To Endanger Freedom Of Navigation In One Of The World’s Most Vital Waterways”.
Unprecedented Houthi Attacks Against International Maritime Vessels In The Red Sea Affected More Than 50 Countries In 27 Attacks, And Crews From More Than 20 Countries Have Been Threatened Or Taken Hostage In Acts Of Piracy, He Said.

A Cause Of Concern For The West

Around 12% Of The World’s Trade Passes Through The Red Sea And The Suez Canal That Connects The Arabian Sea To The Mediterranean.
After The Houthi Attacks Began Around November 19, Several Major Shipping And Oil Companies Announced They Were Pausing Movement On This East-west Passage.

Who Are The Houthis?

The Houthis Are A Militant Group That Has Been Fighting The Civil War In Yemen For A Decade. After They Seized Power In The Capital Sana’a In 2014, A Saudi-UAE Alliance Attempted To Dislodge Them.
The Houthis Now Control Northern Yemen, Including Sana’a, And Have A Presence In Most Regions Of The Country. The Earlier Government Now Operates Out Of The Port Of Aden.

The Houthis Are Shia And Are Backed With Arms And Finances By The Shia Regime In Tehran. Iran’s Great Regional Rival, Sunni-Majority Saudia Arabia, Along With Western Allies Like The US, Backs The Yemen Government.

The Houthis & Hamas Nexus?

Though Hamas Is A Sunni Organization, It Is Backed By Iran Because Of Their Mutual Opposition To The US And Israel. The Houthis’ Support For Palestine And The Yemen Conflict Are Both, Therefore, Also A Manifestation Of Existing Regional Rivalries.
The Iranian Regime Also Backs And Funds The Shia Militant Group Hezbollah In Lebanon, Which Has Been Taking On The Israeli Defence Forces In The North Of The Country.

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Zaheer Hussain

Senior Lecturer General Studies, SSBCrackExams, Passionate Teacher, Masters in Public Administration, Expertise in Polity, History and Current Affairs. Loves Food and traveling Solo.