The Rise and Impact of the Houthis in Yemen: From 2004 Clashes to Ongoing Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis

The MV Ruby Mar, a British-owned cargo ship, was struck by a missile on February 18, 2024, and subsequently sank in the Red Sea. The missile was launched from Yemen by the Houthis, a group responsible for dozens of attacks on ships in the area since November 2023. The Houthis control a significant portion of Yemen, a country that has been embroiled in a civil war for over nine years, leading to one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. More than 350,000 people in Yemen have died due to violence, famine, or lack of medical services. The Houthis claim their attacks on ships in the Red Sea target businesses connected to Israel, in protest of Israel's war in Gaza and in solidarity with Palestinians, aiming to pressure involved parties.

The conflict in Yemen has deep historical roots. For centuries, the most populous areas of Yemen were ruled by the Zaydis, a Shia Muslim sect. A military revolution in the 1960s overthrew the Zaydi rulers, leading to the formation of the North Yemen republic. By the late 1970s, Ali Abdullah Saleh, a colonel involved in the revolution, became president. Despite being a Zaydi, Saleh marginalized the Zaydi cause. In 1990, Saleh unified North and South Yemen, but Zaydi political movements persisted. Hussein al-Houthi, a Yemeni politician, started a Zaydi movement in Saada Province, a Zaydi stronghold. Al-Houthi and his followers were critical of Saleh and opposed Sunni Saudi Arabia's growing influence. Initially a small militia, the group grew more militarized and hostile to Saleh, particularly as he cooperated with the US in its war on terror.

In 2004, clashes erupted between Saleh's forces and al-Houthi's followers, leading to al-Houthi's death. However, this only strengthened the movement, which became known as the Houthis. Over the next few years, the Houthis frequently clashed with the government and reportedly began cooperating with Iran, a Shia-majority country.

The Arab Spring protests in January 2011 also impacted Yemen, where protesters called for Saleh's resignation. Following Saleh's eventual step-down, a Saudi-backed transitional government led by interim president Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi was formed. The Houthis initially participated in a national dialogue for Yemen's new government but withdrew in 2014 due to disagreements. Later that year, they took advantage of protests over fuel prices, attacking the president's residence and seizing control of the capital, Sana'a.

In March 2015, as the Houthis extended their control to the port city of Hudaydah, Hadi fled to Saudi Arabia, leading to a Saudi-led coalition's intervention in Yemen's civil war. The coalition imposed a naval blockade aimed at restricting arms flow to the Houthis. Despite this, the Houthis maintained and expanded their territory. Their governance in controlled areas has been characterized by brutality, with human rights organizations accusing both the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis of war crimes, including airstrikes, landmine attacks, and forced disappearances.

Tensions between Saleh and the Houthis over power led to Saleh's death in 2017. By 2020, after immense loss of life, the Saudi-led coalition reduced airstrikes and eased some blockades. UN-brokered ceasefire talks began in April 2022, aiming to ease restrictions and open Yemen economically, but failed to address accountability for the harm done to Yemenis.

As of now, the Houthis control areas with over 70% of Yemen's population but lack international recognition or legitimacy among many Yemenis. They aim to legitimize their rule by framing their actions as support for Palestine, thus appealing to broader Arab and Muslim sentiments. The Houthis' Red Sea attacks have disrupted international trade and prompted a US-UK-led coalition's retaliation, worsening conditions for Yemenis. Despite this, the Houthis appear to be strengthening their hold on power, with increasing support among Yemenis at protests against Israel and in solidarity with Palestinians.