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The Iran-backed Houthis of Yemen have emerged as a significant force in the Middle East. The rebel group is rooted in a sub-sect of the Shia Muslim minority known as the Zaidis. They have waged war against the government for nearly a decade. 

While their initial conflict was domestic, recent developments have escalated their reach into global affairs, drawing the attention of international powers like the United States and Russia.

Merchant of Death: Putin’s Arms Dealer Back in Business Amid Middle Eastern Conflict - USA Herald

Who Are the Houthis?

The Houthi movement began in the 1990s, formed to combat what its leaders saw as the corruption of Yemen’s then-president, Ali Abdullah Saleh. 

The group took its name from Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi, a Zaidi religious leader. Over time, their resistance to Saleh’s regime grew into a more organized rebellion. 

By 2003, Saleh, with backing from Saudi Arabia’s military, launched efforts to suppress the Houthis, but the rebels proved resilient.

The conflict escalated in 2014, when the Houthis initiated a civil war against Yemen's national government.

Since then, the Houthis have controlled significant parts of Yemen, including the capital, Sana’a, and have engaged in a wider regional conflict involving Saudi Arabia, Iran, and other key players in the Middle East.

Attacks on Red Sea Shipping

More recently, the Houthis have turned their attention to the Red Sea, launching missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels they suspect to be connected to Israel. 

They align interests with Hamas in the Israel-Gaza war. But they also operate a pirate operation attacking and robbing ships in the Red Sea.

Their attacks have not been limited to Israeli-linked ships. On several occasions they have attacked US and British vessels.  Many commercial vessels with no direct connection to Israel have also been targeted, disrupting global trade and increasing shipping costs.

Louise Nevill, UK CEO, marine, cargo, and logistics at Marsh, recently highlighted the economic consequences: "Currently, we are seeing premiums as high as 2% on vessel value for a single Red Sea transit amid fluctuating insurer appetite." 

This is a significant increase from previous rates of 0.7%, reflecting the rising risks of navigating through this critical maritime route.

In response to these attacks, the U.S. and its allies have launched countermeasures to protect international shipping and maintain the flow of global trade. 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken remarked earlier this year, "The Houthis' attacks on international shipping are a threat to everyone."

Russian-Houthi Weapons Deal

The Houthis' reach has extended beyond the Middle East, drawing in Russia. 

Reports indicate that a weapons deal between the Houthis and Russia was brokered by Viktor Bout, a notorious arms dealer dubbed "The Merchant of Death." According to sources familiar with the situation, the Houthis negotiated the purchase of $10 million worth of automatic weapons during a meeting in Moscow in August.

The deal is seen as a major intervention by Russia in the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict. 

The current gun deal does not include anti-ship missiles, bu U.S. intelligence warn for months that Russia may provide such weapons to the Houthis in retaliation for American support of Ukraine. 

This potential escalation has significant implications for both the Red Sea shipping lanes and broader geopolitical dynamics.

Global Implications of the Houthi Threat

The Houthis’ activities in the Red Sea and their alignment with international powers like Russia and Iran have had far-reaching economic and political consequences. 

The disruption of commercial shipping has led to rising costs in global trade, while the threat of further escalation continues to put pressure on regional stability. 

As Blinken noted, "These attacks are having a real effect on the prices that people have to pay for food, for medicine, for energy."

The Houthis’ growing influence, backed by Iran and potentially armed by Russia, is a major concern for the international community.