How powerful are the Houthis?

The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, are a rebel group in Yemen that has managed to confound some of the world’s most powerful militaries. Let’s explore their background, military capabilities, and impact on global affairs.

The Houthis are a minority group of Yemenis from the mountainous north-west of the country. They take their name from their movement’s founder, Hussein Al-Houthi. In 2014, after Yemen’s strongman ruler was deposed by the Arab Spring protests, the Houthis marched down to the capital, Sana’a, and seized power.

They were aided by the previously deposed President Saleh, who put his loyal Republican Guard at their disposal. This enabled them to take over 80% of Yemen’s population. Since then, Yemen has been torn apart by a catastrophic civil war, resulting in an estimated 150,000 deaths and millions dependent on food aid.

Military Capabilities

The Houthis have steadily developed their military capabilities since seizing power in 2014. Their arsenal includes weapons made with Iranian equipment or components:

1. Ballistic Missiles:

The Houthis possess ballistic missiles called Typhoon, which are rebranded versions of the Iranian Qadr missile. These missiles have a range of 1,600 to 1,900 kilometers and are considered inaccurate but potentially able to reach Israel. They also have Iran’s Quds cruise missile, with different versions having a range of about 1,650 kilometers, enough to reach Israel. In 2022, they used Quds 2 cruise missiles to hit oil facilities in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) and struck facilities in Saudi Arabia using the same missile in 2020.

2. Drones:

The Houthis manufacture drones domestically but incorporate smuggled Iranian components. They possess Iranian Shahed-136 drones, which Russia uses in its war on Ukraine. These drones have a range of about 2,000 kilometers.  Another drone model available to them is the Samad-3, with an estimated range of about 1,600 kilometers. They have used these drones in attacks on the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Impact on Global Affairs

The Houthis’ actions have had significant repercussions:

– In response to the war in Gaza, they started firing drones and missiles towards Israel, targeting ships with Israeli links in solidarity with Palestinians.

– US and British forces carried out strikes on Houthi bases in Yemen after repeated attacks on Red Sea ships disrupted vital shipping lanes.

– Major shipping companies have stopped using the Red Sea due to Houthi attacks, diverting trade routes around southern Africa instead.

– The US and UK launched air strikes on Houthi targets to protect global shipping.

Despite facing massive coalition air campaigns led by Saudi Arabia (alarmed at Houthi links to Iran), the Houthis have demonstrated resilience and thwarted attempts to reinstate Yemen.