The Houthi rebels in Yemen have officially announced their entry into the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, saying they have started targeting Israeli positions with ballistic missiles and drones in support of Palestine.
The Times of Israel quoted, Yahya Saria, the spokesperson of the Houthi group, saying the aerial attacks were carried out due to a “sense of religious, moral, humanitarian, and national responsibility for the people of Gaza, who face a rising humanitarian crisis due to Israeli bombardment”.
On Tuesday, Houthis missile attack on Israel was thwarted by Israeli Arrow-3 anti-ballistic missile system.
The involvement of Houthis in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war was much anticipated and could exacerbate tensions in the Middle-east region. While the Houthis possess weaponry that can reach Israel, their capabilities are likely insufficient to bypass Israel’s advanced air defenses.
In Jerusalem on Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had accused Iran of preparing to launch precision-guided missiles at Israel from Yemen. “Iran hopes to use Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen as bases to attack Israel with statistical missiles and precision-guided missiles. That is a great, great danger,” he had said.
Houthis are alleged to have close links and backing of Iranian government, and have been known for their conflict with the Saudi-led coalition in the region. Most of their might has been directed towards fighting Iran’s rival coalition in the region, led by Saudi and UAE, and backed by US and Israel.
The Houthis have targeted many energy installations deep within the territory of both UAE and Saudi in the recent years, and the latest announcement by Houthis could potentially drag more regional players in the Israel-Hamas war.
A 2022 UN Security Council report states that, “The Houthis have conducted attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea using waterborne improvised explosive devices and sea mines.” While also holding them responsible for, “Repeated cross-border terrorist attacks striking civilians and civilian infrastructure” in Saudi Arabia and UAE.
Who are the Houthis?
Emerging in the 1990s as a theological group under Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi, the Houthis, formally known as ‘Ansar Allah’ (Supporters of God), primarily represent the Zaidi branch of Shia Islam. Their initial aim was to defend Zaidi Shia rights from perceived external influences, especially, the growing Sunni Wahhabi ideology. Over the decades, however, their ambition grew from being defenders of their sect to key political stakeholders in Yemen.
Houthis’ Rise to Power
After capitalising on Yemen’s political instability post the 2011 Arab Spring, the Houthis quickly advanced, capturing the capital, Sana’a, in 2014. This catapulted the rebel militia group as a dominant political force in Yemen. They also hold a key port city in Red Sea, Hodeida, which give them both a militarily and economical leverage. They also control the treacherous mountainous terrain of Yemen’s north, giving them a natural defensive advantage, and making largely impossible for opposing forces to launch successful offensives against them.
Military Might
Possessing an array of weaponry, from ballistic missiles to drones, the group’s military capabilities have evolved profoundly. The Houthis, with weapons from Iran and those seized during Yemen’s 2014 coup, have targeted locations up to 1,300 km away, including Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. They reportedly possess missiles with a range up to 2,500 km, enough to target many Israeli cities sitting in their stronghold, Sana’a. They’ve in the past launched attacks deep into Saudi territory and have disrupted global oil prices with strikes on major oil facilities. Furthermore, their estimated tens of thousands to over 100,000 strong personnel, including local tribesmen and defected military units, have solidified their grasp on key Yemeni regions.
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