Confronting the Houthis: How powerful are Yemen’s rebel rulers? - BBC News

The Houthis represent only around 15% of Yemenis, yet consider themselves the rightful rulers.

2 days agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsIsrael-Gaza warImage source, ReutersBy Frank GardnerBBC Security CorrespondentThe Houthis continue to confound some of the world's most powerful militaries. They are still firing missiles at any international shipping they consider linked to the US, UK or Israel, as well as some that isn't.

They have already had a major impact on global trade, forcing ships to divert thousands of miles away. They seem undaunted by repeated US-led air strikes on their missile bases and they have vowed to retaliate against US and UK assets.

So just who are the Houthis, how did they get so powerful and what happens now in the Red Sea?

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. They fought several wars against Yemen's strongman ruler in the early 2000s and then, after he was deposed by the Arab Spring protests, they marched down to the capital, Sana'a, and seized power in 2014. The previously deposed President Saleh, still bitter at being ousted, put his loyal Republican Guard at their disposal, enabling them to take over 80% of Yemen's population.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-68182879?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

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