Explained: Who Are The Houthis And Reasons Behind US and UK Airstrikes In Yemen

Airstrikes have been initiated by the US and UK against over a dozen sites utilized by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, as per statements from US officials. The strikes represent a significant military response to the continued series of drone and missile attacks by the Houthis on commercial ships in the Red Sea, which commenced after the outbreak of Israel's war in Gaza, according to the Guardian. Here's the progression of events leading to this point:

Who are the Houthis?

Named after their founder, Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi, the Houthis are a Yemeni militia group representing the Zaidi branch of Shia Islam. In the 1980s, they emerged in opposition to Saudi Arabia's religious influence in Yemen. The group, officially known as Ansar Allah, is estimated to have around 20,000 fighters and controls most of the west of the country, including its Red Sea coastline.

What is the group's relationship with Iran and the war in Gaza?

Iran backs the Houthis as part of its longstanding hostility with Saudi Arabia, and support for Hamas in the war in Gaza is provided by them, as per Guardian reports. After the Hamas massacre on October 7, the readiness of the Houthi leader Abdul Malik Al-Houthi was expressed, stating that his forces were "ready to move in the hundreds of thousands to join the Palestinian people and confront the enemy."

What has been happening in the Red Sea?

South of the Suez Canal, one of the world's most densely packed shipping channels, lies the Red Sea, the most significant waterway connecting Europe to Asia and East Africa. Yemen is situated along the sea's southeast coast, where it meets the Gulf of Aden.

Shortly after the start of the Gaza war, missile and drone attacks were initiated by the Houthis against vessels in the Red Sea, most of which were intercepted by US and Israeli countermeasures.

The situation escalated on 19 November when a car carrier, chartered by a Japanese company and linked to an Israeli businessman, was seized by militants using a helicopter, and the crew was abducted. The vessels perceived by the Houthis as linked to Israel or its allies were declared to be "legitimate targets for armed forces."

Subsequent attacks on vessels occurred, mostly without success. However, many shipping companies decided to bypass the Red Sea route and divert around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope, significantly adding to journey times and cost, reported a US-based media outlet.

How has the US responded?

18 December 2023 - The formation of Operation Prosperity Guardian in response to the Houthi attacks was announced by the US. The confrontation was refrained from by the US until 31 December, when a group of small boats attempting to board a container ship that had requested their protection was fired upon by US Navy helicopters. The deaths of 10 militants marked a new phase in the crisis.

9 January 2024 - 21 drones and missiles fired by the Houthis were shot down by US and British warships, in what London called the largest such attack in the area.

10 January 2024 - More attacks were mentioned by Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, which could prompt a Western military response, reported PTI.

What weapons are the US and UK using to strike Yemen's Houthis?

Retaliatory airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen were conducted by United States and British forces following repeated warnings. The attacks, launched overnight Friday from air and sea, targeted various sites in Yemen. The military action utilized advanced weaponry and equipment, reported CNN.

The weapons deployed included Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM), launched from US Navy ships and submarines. The guided-missile submarine USS Florida played a significant role, carrying a substantial payload of Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Additionally, US Navy guided-missile destroyers participated, utilizing their Vertical Launching System (VLS) to launch Tomahawks. The UK contributed by deploying Typhoon fighter jets, which delivered Paveway IV munitions with 500-pound warheads. The airstrikes aimed to deter Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, according to CNN

What was happening in Yemen before the Gaza war?

Around the turn of the century, support had been gained by the Houthis from Shia Yemenis who were fed up with the corruption and cruelty of the longtime authoritarian president and Saudi ally, Ali Abdullah Saleh, particularly during the aftermath of 9/11 and the US invasion of Iraq. Saleh was forced to resign in 2012 due to popular protests and several assassination attempts.

In 2014, the capital Sana'a was seized by the Houthis, and they allied with their former enemy Saleh to overthrow the new Western-backed president, Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, a year later. After Hadi was forced to flee, its allies in Saudi Arabia and the UAE were asked by the exiled Yemeni government to launch a military campaign, also backed by the West, to drive out the Houthis, reported USA Today.

A catastrophic civil war ensued, and by the end of 2021, the UN estimated that it led to 377,000 deaths and displaced 4 million people. The war was effectively won by the Houthis. A significant decline in violence was prompted by an April 2022 ceasefire, and despite the official expiry of the truce in October, fighting has largely remained in abeyance.

How were the attacks by the Houthis seen in Yemen and Saudi Arabia?

The Houthi operations are seen by some Yemenis as a legitimate means of exerting pressure on Israel and its allies in defence of Palestinian civilians, and their intervention is believed to have helped shore up domestic support. The militants also believe that attacks in the Red Sea can make them a more significant global player, synonymous with Yemen as a whole, despite the presence of an internationally recognized government in the south of the country.

Meanwhile, attempts are being made by the Saudis to normalize relations with Iran and finalize a peace deal that could recognize Houthi control of the north of Yemen. They have been anxious about any response from the US that could complicate its effort to withdraw from the country, reported the Guardian.