The Houthis
The movement that holds northern Yemen and has attacked Red Sea shipping.
The basics
The Houthis, who call themselves Ansar Allah, are a Zaidi Shia movement that has controlled much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, since 2014. From late 2023 they attacked ships in the Red Sea, saying it was in response to the war in Gaza.
Latest coverage23
Houthis claim attack on Aramco refinery in Riyadh as smoke, flames reported
France Deploys Troops to Saudi Arabia to Defend Yanbu Oil Port
Saudi Arabia Reports Interception of Houthi Ballistic Missile Targeting Military Base
UN condemns Houthi strike bid on Riyadh as Yemen displacement surges past 130,000
US urges Americans to reconsider Middle East travel after Houthi missiles target Riyadh
Saudi Oil Under Siege: Houthis, Iraqi Militias Tighten Grip on Dual Export Routes
Saudi Arabia Running Low on Interceptors, Asks France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt for Air-Defense Help
As Houthis escalate, Trump signals Iran war nearing diplomatic window
Iran's Strategy: Outlast, Not Outfight
Saudi coalition claims interception of first Houthi drone attack on Mecca in nearly a decade
Houthis seize Red Sea ports, escalate attacks on Saudi Arabia
Houthis seize Mokha port and Red Sea islands, tightening grip on vital shipping route
Yemen's Escalating War Enters New Phase as Houthis Seize Coast
Saudi Arabia Trapped as Houthis Seize Red Sea Chokepoints and Pipeline Attacks Shut Supply Routes
Saudi Crown Prince demands US strikes on Houthis as they seize Red Sea strait
Saudi Arabia shuts East-West pipeline after drone attack as Houthis seize Red Sea chokepoint
Pakistan caught between Saudi defense pact and Iran mediation as Houthi attacks escalate
Houthis seize Mokha port and Red Sea island, tightening grip on critical shipping chokepoint
Houthis Launch Heaviest Missile Strikes on Saudi Arabia Since Conflict Reignited
Oil Approaches $100 as Middle East Tensions and Trade Risks Rattle Markets
Yemen clashes pass 300 dead as Houthis push toward strategic strait
Saudi Arabia Loses Its Last Oil Escape Route as Houthis Squeeze Red Sea
Yemen's Houthi-government fighting escalates to its deadliest point in years
Houthis claim attack on Aramco refinery in Riyadh as smoke, flames reported
MoveThe Houthis are signaling escalation: they've moved from claiming attacks to demonstrating apparent impact (fire visibl…
France Deploys Troops to Saudi Arabia to Defend Yanbu Oil Port
MoveMacron is making a calculated move to stabilize European energy supplies while managing domestic political pressure.
Saudi Arabia Reports Interception of Houthi Ballistic Missile Targeting Military Base
MoveThe Houthis are betting that sustained missile and drone strikes on Saudi military installations—particularly those com…
UN condemns Houthi strike bid on Riyadh as Yemen displacement surges past 130,000
MoveThe Houthis are executing a coordinated strategy with Iran to weaponize maritime chokepoints.
US urges Americans to reconsider Middle East travel after Houthi missiles target Riyadh
MoveThe Houthi strike on Riyadh signals a deliberate escalation of their assertiveness in the broader Iran-US confrontation…
Saudi Oil Under Siege: Houthis, Iraqi Militias Tighten Grip on Dual Export Routes
MoveIran's move (via proxies) is to demonstrate that Saudi Arabia cannot be insulated from the US-Iran war—that there is no…
Saudi Arabia Running Low on Interceptors, Asks France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt for Air-Defense Help
MoveSaudi Arabia's move is a structural admission: six months of Houthi attrition has worked.
As Houthis escalate, Trump signals Iran war nearing diplomatic window
MoveTrump is betting that expressing willingness to negotiate—while claiming Iran is the eager party—positions him as a dea…
Iran's Strategy: Outlast, Not Outfight
MoveIran's move is explicitly a bet on American domestic politics and the finite tolerance for indefinite conflict.
Saudi coalition claims interception of first Houthi drone attack on Mecca in nearly a decade
MoveThe Houthis appear to be testing Saudi Arabia's redlines through an escalation ladder: first Red Sea blockade and terri…
Houthis seize Red Sea ports, escalate attacks on Saudi Arabia
MoveThis appears to be an Iranian proxy escalation designed to compound economic pressure on the US and its regional allies…
Houthis seize Mokha port and Red Sea islands, tightening grip on vital shipping route
MoveThe Houthis executed a coordinated territorial grab—seizing Mokha, then racing to capture Perim Island and the Hanish a…
Yemen's Escalating War Enters New Phase as Houthis Seize Coast
MoveThis is a Houthi power move: they gambled on a coordinated offensive during regional turbulence (the 2026 Iran war) whe…
Saudi Arabia Trapped as Houthis Seize Red Sea Chokepoints and Pipeline Attacks Shut Supply Routes
MoveIran is executing a coordinated proxy strategy that creates a cascade of dilemmas for Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Crown Prince demands US strikes on Houthis as they seize Red Sea strait
MoveIran's move: Use the Houthis to methodically seize control of the southern Red Sea, applying pressure on Saudi oil expo…
Saudi Arabia shuts East-West pipeline after drone attack as Houthis seize Red Sea chokepoint
MoveThis appears to be a coordinated or synchronized move by Iranian-backed actors: Iraqi militias strike Saudi's land-base…
Pakistan caught between Saudi defense pact and Iran mediation as Houthi attacks escalate
MoveThis is a test of Pakistan's strategic autonomy under pressure.
Houthis seize Mokha port and Red Sea island, tightening grip on critical shipping chokepoint
MoveThis is Iran's move—a proxy expansion calculated to maximize leverage against the United States at minimal direct cost.
Houthis Launch Heaviest Missile Strikes on Saudi Arabia Since Conflict Reignited
MoveThe Houthis' escalation is a calculated play for leverage on two boards simultaneously.
Oil Approaches $100 as Middle East Tensions and Trade Risks Rattle Markets
MoveThe Trump administration faces a dilemma: higher oil prices undermine its inflation-reduction narrative and feed consum…
Yemen clashes pass 300 dead as Houthis push toward strategic strait
MoveThis is the Houthis' move, and their bet is clear: exploit regional tensions and the weakened 2022 truce to seize terri…
Saudi Arabia Loses Its Last Oil Escape Route as Houthis Squeeze Red Sea
MoveIran and its Houthi allies appear to be executing a coordinated squeeze.
Yemen's Houthi-government fighting escalates to its deadliest point in years
MoveThe Houthis' timing reads differently once you place them inside Iran's wider proxy network rather than treating this a…