Yemen’s Houthis have joined the war between Israel and the radical Islamic group Hamas, which is raging more than 1,000 miles from their seat of power in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.
The group said on October 31 it had fired drones and missiles at Israel in attacks that highlighted the regional risks of the conflict.
Here are some details about the group:
History
In the late 1990s, the Houthi family in Yemen’s far north created a religious revitalization movement for the Zaydi sect of Shia Islam, which once ruled Yemen but left the central north impoverished and marginalized.
As friction with the government increased, they fought a series of guerrilla wars with the national army and a brief border conflict with the Sunni power, Saudi Arabia.
War in Yemen
The war began in late 2014, when Sanaa was taken over by the Houthis. Concerned about the growing influence of Shia Iran along its border, Saudi Arabia intervened at the head of a Western-backed coalition in March 2015 in support of the Saudi-backed government.
The Houthis have established control over much of the north and other major population centers, while the internationally recognized government has been based in Aden.
Yemen has enjoyed more than a year of relative calm amid a UN-led peace effort. Saudi Arabia has been holding talks with the Houthis in an attempt to exit the war.
But Houthi attacks on Israel have increased the risks of conflict for Saudi Arabia.
Houthi attacks Israel
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said in a televised statement that the group launched a “large number” of ballistic missiles and drones at Israel on October 31, and that there would be more such attacks to come “to help the Palestinians the victory”.
Saree said there have been three attacks by the Houthis against Israel since the start of the conflict, appearing to confirm that they were behind a drone strike on October 28 that resulted in explosions in Egypt and was blamed by Israel on the Houthis; and an attack on October 19, an incident in which the US Navy intercepted three cruise missiles.
What is the objective of the attacks?
Part of an Iranian-backed “Axis of Resistance,” the Houthis have rallied behind the Palestinians since Hamas attacked Israel.
Saree blamed Israel for instability in the Middle East, saying the “circle of conflict” in the region was expanding over its “continuous crimes.” The Houthis would continue to organize attacks “until Israeli aggression ceases.”
The Houthis’ slogan is “Death to America, Death to Israel, curse the Jews and victory to Islam.”
Ties with Iran
The Houthis demonstrated their missile and drone capabilities during the Yemen war in attacks on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, targeting oil installations and vital infrastructure.
The Saudi-led coalition accuses Iran of arming, training and financing the Houthis. The group denies being an Iranian representative and says it develops its own weapons.
Video: US fears Iran’s involvement in the war between Israel and Hamas
See also: Images of the war between Israel and Hamas
Source: CNN Brasil
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