How Yemen's Houthis Went From A Small Mountain Militia To A Big Regional Threat
How did Yemen's Houthis transform from a small mountain militia into a powerful regional force? In this explainer, we trace the Houthi movement's rise from northern Yemen in the late 1990s to its 2014 capture of Sanaa, its growing ties with Iran and Hezbollah, and the development of its missile and drone capabilities. The latest Houthi advance along Yemen's Red Sea coast has brought the group closer to the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key global shipping route. The escalation has also drawn Saudi Arabia into renewed fighting, with concerns extending to regional security, shipping and energy supplies.
