Houthis of Yemen -Who Are They

[Machine_Washable]

Since Israel’s war on the people of Gaza and Hamas is spiraling into a regional conflict, particularly from the Houthis of Yemen interrupting international shipping,  here is a brief explainer I made.  
 

To delve deeper into these topics, let's explore them step by step, starting with political authority in Sunni and Twelver Shia Islam, the uniqueness of Zaidi Islam, the emergence of the Houthi movement, and their current actions regarding Israel and the hostility of Gulf states towards them.

Political Authority in Sunni Islam
In Sunni Islam, political authority after the Prophet Muhammadﷺ is rooted in the concept of the Caliphate. The first four caliphs, known as the "Rashidun" (rightly guided), were elected through consensus of the Muslim community. Sunni Muslims regard these caliphs as legitimate successors to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, but we do not attribute divine status or infallibility to them. Leadership in Sunni Islam is thus based on communal consensus and the caliph's adherence to Islamic law and the Prophet's traditions.

Political Authority in Twelver Shia Islam
Twelver Shia Islam, the largest branch of Shia Islam, contrasts with Sunni Islam in its concept of political and religious authority. Twelver Shias believe in the divine appointment of twelve Imams, starting with Ali, the Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ cousin and son-in-law. These Imams are considered infallible and the true spiritual and political successors of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The 12th Imam, known as the Mahdi, is believed to be in occultation and will return as a messianic figure. This belief in divinely ordained and infallible leadership underpins Twelver Shia theology.

Uniqueness of Zaidi Islam
Zaidi Islam, a branch of Shia Islam from which the Houthis arise, is distinctive in its doctrinal and historical aspects. Zaidis recognize only the first five Imams and do not believe in the concept of the infallibility of the Imams, aligning them somewhat closer to Sunni Islam in this regard. Zaidism is named after Zayd ibn Ali, a great-grandson of Ali, who led an uprising against the Umayyad Caliphate. The Zaidis have a long history in Yemen, dating back to the ninth century, and historically, they established a form of religious governance in parts of Yemen.

Emergence of the Houthi Movement
The Houthi movement, officially known as Ansar Allah, emerged in the late 20th century as a Zaidi revivalist group in response to perceived marginalization and the influence of foreign ideologies in Yemen, especially Wahhabism from Saudi Arabia. The movement became politically active following the unification of North and South Yemen in 1990. Led by Hussein Badr al-Din al-Houthi, it initially opposed the government of Ali Abdullah Saleh, criticizing it for corruption and alignment with Western and Saudi interests. The American invasion of Iraq in 2003 was a pivotal moment that radicalized the movement, leading to an armed rebellion against the Yemeni government.

Current Actions Against Israel and Gulf States' Hostility
Recently, the Houthis have escalated actions against Israel, targeting Israeli and U.S. interests. This escalation is part of a broader regional conflict. The Houthis, aligning with Iran, have threatened and attacked ships heading to Israel in the Red Sea and have fired missiles and drones at Israel. These actions aim to impose costs on Israel and respond to the conflict in Gaza, demonstrating the Houthis' capabilities and regional influence.

The Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia, are hostile to the Houthis primarily due to the latter's perceived alignment with Iran, Saudi Arabia's regional rival. The Gulf states view the Houthi movement as a proxy for Iranian interests and a threat to regional stability. This hostility has manifested in the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen, aiming to restore the Hadi government and counter Houthi advances.

If you have any other questions please let me know and I will try to answer inshallah 

I should add that America and the gulf states have been threatening the Houthis,  but Saudi Arabia waged a brutal war against them for years and the Houthis humiliated the Saudis. They are very good fighters and I don’t think anybody actually wants to fight them on the ground. Most likely Israel and America will just help bomb then from the air and the sea. I don’t think there will be any invasion. 

Edited December 19, 2023 by Machine_Washable