Who Are The Houthis?: The Rise Of A Militant Movement Shaping Middle East Conflict
The Houthis, a powerful armed group based in Yemen, have emerged as one of the most influential and deadliest forces in the Middle East. Known formally as Ansar Allah, meaning “Supporters of God,” the group began as a religious and political movement in northern Yemen before developing into a military organization.
The group currently controls Yemen’s capital Sanaa and large portions of the country, challenging the internationally recognized government and confronting regional powers, particularly Saudi Arabia.
The group’s origins lie in the Zaydi branch of Shia Islam, a religious tradition historically rooted in northern Yemen. Although the movement had originally focused on protecting Zaydi identity and opposing what it viewed as political and religious marginalization, its ambitions expanded as Yemen descended into conflict.
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In 2014, Houthi fighters seized Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention a year later to support Yemen’s internationally recognized government. The ensuing war devastated the country, contributing to widespread displacement, hunger and a humanitarian crisis.
Over the years, the Houthis have acquired stronger weapons and strengthened their military capabilities, with substantial support from nearby Iran. They have launched missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia, targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea and attacked Israel during the wider Mideast conflict. These operations have threatened civilian populations, international trade and regional stability.
A map of the Houthi engagements with commercial ships from various countries. (Wikipedia Commons map)
Understanding who the Houthis are requires examining their religious roots, political objectives, regional alliances and record of violence. Their actions raise difficult questions about terrorism, national sovereignty and the protection of civilians in an already very volatile region.
Who are the Houthis?
The Houthis are an armed political and religious movement originating in northern Yemen. Their official name is Ansar Allah — or “Supporters of God” — and takes its popular name from the Houthi family, whose members played a leading role in its development.
The group emerged in the 1990s as a movement seeking to revive Zaydi religious traditions and challenge what its supporters considered political discrimination against northern Yemeni communities. It gradually became more militant, fighting Yemen’s government before capturing the capital more than a decade ago.
What religion are the Houthis?
The Houthis follow Zaydi Islam, a branch of Shia Islam practiced primarily in northern Yemen. Zaydism differs in important theological and historical respects from Twelver Shia Islam, the dominant form of Shiism in Iran.
Zaydi communities have a long history in Yemen, where Zaydi imams ruled parts of the country for centuries before the monarchy was overthrown in 1962. The Houthi movement draws on this religious heritage as a central element of its identity.
What do the Houthis believe?
The Houthis combine religious conservative beliefs, Yemeni nationalism, opposition to foreign intervention and hostility toward the U.S., Israel and its allies. They argue that their movement defends Yemen against foreign domination and challenges what they regard as unjust regional political arrangements.
The Houthis also oppose Saudi influence in Yemen and have portrayed the kingdom’s military operations as aggression against their country. Their leaders present their regional military campaigns as acts of resistance, including their attacks on Israel and shipping following the outbreak of the Gaza war in 2023.
Why did they attack Saudi Arabia?
This past Saturday, a missile strike hit King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh Saudi authorities reported that at least 13 people were killed and more than 300 injured. The attack was part of a broader escalation in the conflict between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces in Yemen. Saudi Arabia blamed the Houthis for the strike. The Houthis claimed responsibility for that attack on Oct. 11.
The wider context provides some explanation. Fighting had intensified following the collapse of a ceasefire that had largely reduced hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis since 2022. Saudi Arabia has resumed military operations in support of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, while Houthi forces have stepped up attacks against Saudi targets.
Are the Houthis a terrorist group?
Yes. The United States officially designates the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The U.S. government restored this designation in March 2025, following an earlier designation of the group as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity in February 2024.
These classifications impose significant restrictions and sanctions intended to limit the group's resources and support networks. The designation also reflects concerns about the Houthis’ attacks on civilians, international shipping and regional infrastructure, as well as their threats against the United States and its allies.
The United Nations Security Council has also documented Houthi conduct involving attacks on civilian infrastructure, recruitment and use of children and obstruction of humanitarian assistance. The group has additionally been linked to repeated cross-border attacks against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Clemente Lisi serves as executive editor at Religion Unplugged.