Explainer: How Yemen's Houthis went from a small mountain militia to a big regional threat

Live updates

1. 29d ago

   Houthi Advance Toward Bab al-Mandab Strait Threatens Global Trade

   The Iran-backed Houthi militia has expanded from the northern highlands to control positions on the Red Sea coast and Perim Island. This territorial growth allows the group to target shipping near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a waterway where over a dozen countries rely on it for more than half of their maritime trade by value. Following a 2022 UN-brokered ceasefire, recent Houthi attacks on shipping and July 2026 strikes on Saudi Arabia's Abha Airport threaten to restart the Yemeni civil war and disrupt global energy markets.

   Why it matters

   The conflict involves a Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognized government against the Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah. The group's transformation into a regional player is linked to increased missile and drone capabilities and Iranian support. These developments create a maritime chokepoint similar to the Strait of Hormuz.

   What is confirmed

   • The Houthis originated as a movement in Yemen's Saada Governorate and northern highlands.
   • The group now holds positions on Perim Island and the Red Sea coast.
   • Over a dozen countries depend on the Bab al-Mandab Strait for more than half of their maritime trade by value.
   • The Houthis launched attacks on Red Sea shipping in response to Israel's military campaign in Gaza.
   • A UN-brokered ceasefire in 2022 previously quieted the conflict between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Houthi strikes on Abha Airport in July 2026 will reignite the civil war.

   What to watch next

   • Evidence of new modified cruise missile deployments
   • Further territorial gains along the Bab al-Mandab Strait
   • Official responses from the Saudi-led coalition to the Abha Airport strikes
   Sources used for this update (13)

   1. www.cfr.org — Another Hormuz? The Red Sea’s Threat to the Global Economy
   2. www.nbcnews.com — Yemen’s civil war returns and overwhelms hospitals with ‘a very dangerous situation’
   3. www.bbc.com — Who are the Houthis in Yemen and what do they want?
   4. theconversation.com — Yemen’s Houthis move to control crucial waterway – our research maps the countries most at risk
   5. clashreport.com — How a Small Mountain Militia Created a Global Shipping ...
   6. borkena.com — Understanding the Yemeni Crisis: Actors, Rivalries, and the ...
   7. thespeech.com — Who Are the Houthis and How Did They Become a Regional Player?
   8. www.cfr.org — Conflict in Yemen and the Red Sea | Global Conflict Tracker
   9. mepei.com — The Houthis’ Advance to Bab al-Mandab: Iranian Checkmate to Saudi Arabia?
   10. www.middleeasteye.net — Red Sea crisis: What missiles and drones do the Houthis have?
   11. www.aljazeera.com — Are Houthis using new modified cruise missiles in Yemen’s war?
   12. www.tbsnews.net — Houthis: The high-altitude insurgency that took the Middle East by storm
   confidence 90%
2. 45d ago

   Houthi Militia Expands Influence Amid Intensifying Yemen Conflict

   The Houthi militia has evolved from a small mountain group into a regional threat, currently advancing across several fronts in Yemen. Recent escalations have displaced 112,000 people and prompted the European Union to raise alerts regarding Houthi attacks on shipping. While the group has increased Iran's leverage over the United States and Saudi Arabia, these advances may jeopardize their domestic legitimacy. Yemeni forces continue to target Houthi positions and a Saudi base, though the United States has ruled out a direct role in these specific engagements.

   Why it matters

   The Houthis leverage Yemen's geography to maintain power and disrupt maritime choke points. Their growth is linked to years of warfare and support from Iran. This shift transforms a local insurgency into a strategic tool for regional geopolitical pressure.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The Houthi advance may cost the rebel group its legitimacy within Yemen.
   • Yemeni forces have targeted Houthis and a Saudi base.
   • The European Union raised an alert over Houthi attacks on ships.
   • The conflict has displaced 112,000 people.

   What to watch next

   • EU response to continued maritime attacks
   • Outcome of Houthi advances in key provinces
   • US policy shifts regarding direct involvement in Yemen
   Sources used for this update (10)

   1. AP News — Why Yemen’s Houthis have only grown stronger through years of war
   2. The New York Times — Geography Is Power
   3. Al Jazeera — Yemeni forces target Houthis and a Saudi base as US rules out direct role
   4. Al Jazeera — Iran war live: Yemeni soldiers battling Houthi advances on several fronts
   5. Reuters — How Yemen's Houthis went from a small mountain militia to a big regional threat
   6. The Economist — Iran’s allies now menace a second maritime choke point
   7. The American Prospect — Aftermath: A Second Middle East Front
   8. The New York Times — Fighting Intensifies in Yemen as Militia Advances on Key Provinces
   9. theconversation.com — Houthi advance boosts Iran’s leverage over the US and Saudi Arabia – but may cost rebel group its legitimacy back in Yemen
   10. www.jpost.com — Middle East
   confidence 70%