Ansar Allah Movement (Yemen)

Logo of Ansr Allah, a Yemeni Resistance Movement

The Ansar Allah movement (Arabic: أنصار اللّه اليمنية), commonly known as the Houthis, is a politico-religious movement rooted in Zaydi Shia Islam in Yemen. Established in 1990, the movement has expanded its influence and currently controls Sanaa, the capital, along with other regions of the country. Ansar Allah is widely regarded as being influenced by the Islamic Revolution of Iran and the ideological framework of Imam Khomeini. The establishment of the Houthi government is viewed as a continuation of the Zaydi Imamate in Yemen, which began in the 3rd/9th century and lasted for over 1,100 years.

The confrontation between Ansar Allah and the United States, alongside the Yemeni government's alliance with the U.S., led to armed conflict. In its initial conflict with the Yemeni government, Husayn al-Houthi, the movement's founder, was killed. With the rise of the Arab Spring, the Houthis seized control of Sanaa. Saudi Arabia, under the guise of an Arab coalition aiming to retake areas controlled by Ansar Allah, targeted the movement, but this effort ultimately failed due to the Houthis' resistance.

In response to Israeli Zionist Regime's attacks on Gaza and the massacre of Palestinian civilians, Ansar Allah targeted objectives in occupied Palestine as well as Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Description and Position

Ansar Allah is recognized as a religious movement with a unique political and ideological framework. Its members primarily follow the Jarudiyya school, a branch of Zaydi Shi'ism, and is often considered the closest Zaydi sect to Twelver Shi'ism. The movement is viewed as a continuation of the Zaidi Imamate in Yemen, established by Yahya b. al-Husayn, known as al-Hadi ila l-Haqq (d. 298 AH), lasted over eleven centuries.

The movement's initial core was a cultural association called Shabab al-Mu'min, founded in 1990. After Husayn Badr al-Din al-Houthi became its leader, the association was restructured and renamed to the Shabab al-Mu'min group, marking the onset of its political activities. Between 1992 and 2004, the group intensified its cultural initiatives and began its armed struggle.

Several factors contributed to the formation of the group, including the neglect of regions inhabited by the Houthi people by the Yemeni government, the rising influence of Salafi and Wahhabi groups, and the spread of their ideology in northern Yemen, which posed a significant threat to the local Zaidi identity.

The Houthi population is estimated to constitute approximately 40% of Yemen's total population. The term "Houthi," which refers to both the movement and its leaders, is derived from the name of the town of Huth, located in the southern part of the Saada governorate.

Organizational Structure

The governance system of Ansar Allah of Yemen is derived from the traditional Zaydi methodology, dynastic rule, and certain institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran, framed within a republican system. Ansar Allah has three executive organizations that operate directly under the supervision of the movement's leader:

• Political Council: An executive body responsible for managing the movement's relations with political groups and parties, diplomatic delegations, and regional organizations. It also prepares and presents reports, studies, and political analyses.
• Executive Council: Composed of organs related to the people, such as the Department of Culture and Education, the social department, the media organization, women's affairs, and the governorates.
• Governmental Affairs Organization: Among the duties ascribed to this organization is the supervision of Ansar Allah's representatives within the state's executive and legislative institutions.

Relations with Iran

The Ansar Allah movement is widely considered to be influenced by Imam Khomeini and his revolution, which was introduced to the Yemeni public as a model by Husayn al-Houthi. The movement's opposition to the United States and Israeli Zionist Regime is perceived as being shaped by the ideological framework of the Iranian Islamic Revolution. Iran is introduced as the financial and military supporter of Ansar Allah of Yemen. It is said that during Badr al-Din al-Houthi's residence in Iran, Yemeni youth received military, security, and ideological training in Iran. Opponents of Ansar Allah view this movement as Iran's arm in Yemen.

International and Regional Sanctions

In 2014 and subsequent years, several Ansar Allah members, including 'Abd al-Malik al-Houthi, were placed on the sanctions list of the United Nations Security Council. In 2022, the UN Security Council placed the Ansar Allah movement under an arms embargo.

Movement Leaders

Since its inception and throughout its path toward governance, the Ansar Allah movement in Yemen has had multiple leaders. Here are some of the prominent figures:

Husayn al-Houthi

Husayn al-Houthi, the son of Badr al-Din al-Houthi, is regarded as the founder and first leader of the Ansar Allah movement. He was martyred in 2004 during the first war between the Houthis and the Yemeni government. His ideas form the ideological charter of the Ansar Allah movement.

Badr al-Din al-Houthi

Badr al-Din al-Houthi was a prominent Zaydi religious authority and is considered the spiritual father of the Ansar Allah movement. Alongside other Zaydi scholars in Yemen, he worked to counter the influence of Wahhabi ideology. Badr al-Din is regarded as a supporter of Iran's Islamic Revolution and as having been influenced by the ideas of Imam Khomeini. Due to pressures and threats from Wahhabi groups, he left Yemen for Iran and resided for a time in the city of Qom. This stay served as a prelude to his deeper engagement with Twelver Shi'ism and the Islamic Revolution.

Abd al-Malik al-Houthi

Main article: Abd al-Malik al-Houthi

'Abd al-Malik al-Houthi is the third leader of the Ansar Allah movement in Yemen, succeeding his brother Husayn and his father Badr al-Din al-Houthi. Reports indicate that he was chosen for this position by his father. Some sources suggest his leadership began in 2010, the year of Badr al-Din's passing, while others attribute it to 2004, following Husayn's death, or to 2006. Significant events during 'Abd al-Malik al-Houthi’s leadership include Ansar Allah’s victory over the Yemeni government, the failure of the Arab coalition’s offensive in Yemen led by Saudi Arabia, missile and drone attacks by Ansar Allah targeting Israeli Zionist Regime and its ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and confrontations with the United States and the United Kingdom in these waters.

Confrontation with the Yemeni Government

The Houthi group viewed the Yemeni government as an instrument of the United States and was critical of the prevailing discrimination, poverty, governmental dependency, and foreign interference in Yemen's affairs. Following the September 11th attacks, the subsequent US invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and America's military presence in the region and the Gulf of Aden, the movement adopted a staunchly anti-American position. One of its most well-known slogans, known as the "Sarkha" (the scream), declared: (God is great, Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse on the Jews, Victory to Islam.) against America and Israeli Zionist Regime. Some researchers have cited the chanting of the "Sarkha" against the United States—which the head of the Yemeni state interpreted as being directed at himself—along with the intensification of the movement's military activities and Hussein al-Houthi's refusal to be held accountable for these activities, as the principal causes for the outbreak of war between the Yemeni government and the movement. The military confrontation between Ansar Allah and the Yemeni government resulted in several wars:

• First War: The first war of the Yemeni government against the Houthis resulted in the martyrdom of Hussein al-Houthi. The killing of three government soldiers and the attempt to arrest Husayn al-Houthi have been declared the cause of this war. This war occurred in the Maran region in 2004.

• Second War: The refusal to end tensions caused the outbreak of the second war in 2005, which lasted for two months. Ultimately, the Yemeni government declared victory, and the war ended. The scope of this war is considered broader than the first war.

• Third War: The remaining tensions from the Second War led to the Third War. The scope of this war, which began in late 2005 and ended in early 2006, extended to the city of Sa'da.

• Fourth War: The displacement of Jews from Sa'da province and the attempt to establish Shi'a rule in this province by the Houthis precipitated the fourth war. The scope of this war, which occurred in 2007, extended beyond Sa'da province. Through Qatari mediation, this war came to an end.

• Fifth War: This war began in 2008 and embroiled the provinces of San'a and Amran. The conflict was terminated by the government's declaration of a unilateral ceasefire.

• Sixth War: The Houthis were accused of kidnapping foreign nationals, leading to the sixth war in August 2009. The Yemeni government extensively utilized airstrikes, while Houthis crossed into Saudi Arabia and reportedly killed two soldiers. The Houthis’ withdrawal from Saudi territory in 2010 marked the end of this conflict.

Arab Spring and the 2011 Revolution

With the start of the Islamic Awakening in several Muslim countries, the people of Yemen rose to overthrow the government, and the Houthis capitalized on this opportunity. As a result of these developments, the Houthis managed to take control of Sa'da province in March 2011 and assumed its administration. They opposed the process of political agreement, rejected early presidential elections, and refused to recognize the new president. After allying with former president Ali 'Abd Allah Salih, the Houthis seized control of Sana'a, the capital of Yemen, in 2014. In 2017, after Saleh attempted to open dialogue with the Saudi-led coalition, he was accused of treason by the Houthis and was killed in a clash with their forces.

Military Conflict with Foreign Countries

Ansar Allah of Yemen has been engaged in military conflicts with multiple foreign countries, some of which are detailed below.

The Attack on Ansar Allah by Saudi Arabia and Coalition Countries

Yemen's President, Mansur Hadi, and his Prime Minister, Khalid Bahah, resigned from their positions. Hadi then moved to Aden and formed a temporary government. On March 26, 2015, a coalition of regional countries, led by Saudi Arabia, launched intense air and naval strikes on Yemen in support of Mansur Hadi. These attacks destroyed numerous infrastructure sites, military facilities, and civilian centers. The stated objective of the operations was to remove Yemeni provinces from Ansar Allah’s control and reclaim government weapons held by the movement. Following the coalition's aerial attacks, Ansar Allah's initial response was to consolidate control over various regions of Yemen to counter both Al-Qa'ida and coalition-aligned forces. Approximately two months after the start of the Saudi-led coalition's offensive, Ansar Allah began conducting numerous operations against Saudi Arabia. As the coalition's attacks expanded, Ansar Allah employed ballistic missiles against Saudi Arabia with the stated aim of halting the offensive. The Houthis have repeatedly targeted Saudi military sites and oil facilities with ballistic missiles and drones.

Attacks on Israeli Zionist Regime and Its Ships in Response to the Bombing of Gaza

In support of the people of Gaza against Israeli regime aggression, the Ansar Allah movement of Yemen has on several occasions targeted various areas of occupied Palestine with missiles and drones. The Houthis have also targeted Israeli regime's ships and vessels destined for regime's ports in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The United States and the United Kingdom have conducted numerous airstrikes against Ansar Allah in Yemen, which, according to some Western media outlets, failed to deter the Houthis from these attacks. This action by Ansar Allah was undertaken in response to Israeli Zionist Regime's attacks on civilians, residential areas, and medical facilities in Gaza, as well as the siege of the city. Israel's attacks on Gaza were carried out following Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, which Hamas conducted in October 2023.