Rise of the Houthis and Their Iran Connection

Why in the News?

• The Houthis, a Yemeni rebel movement closely associated with Iran, have emerged as a major political and military force in West Asia.
• They control large parts of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, and function as the de facto authority in these areas.

Origin and Ideology

• The Houthis call themselves Ansar Allah, meaning “Supporters of Allah”.
• The movement is rooted in Zaidism, a branch of Shia Islam mainly followed in northern Yemen.
• Hussein al-Houthi established the Believing Youth movement in the 1990s to promote Zaidi religious identity.
• From 2002, the movement increasingly opposed US influence and Israeli policies in the region.
• It also drew support from grievances over poor governance, corruption, economic hardship and the marginalisation of Zaidi communities.

Rise to Power

• Hussein al-Houthi was killed in 2004 after conflict with President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s government.
• His brother Abdulmalik al-Houthi subsequently led the movement.
• Repeated clashes with the government between 2005 and 2010 strengthened the Houthis militarily.
• Following the Arab Spring, political instability weakened the central government.
• The Houthis captured Sanaa in 2014, forcing President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi to flee.

Saudi Intervention

• In 2015, Saudi Arabia led a coalition against the Houthis through Operation Decisive Storm.
• The intervention sought to restore Yemen’s internationally recognised government and counter Iranian influence.
• However, the Houthis retained control over much of northern Yemen, while the conflict contributed to a severe humanitarian crisis.

Iran Connection

• Iran provides political and diplomatic support to the Houthis and maintains close relations with their leadership.
• However, describing the Houthis simply as an Iranian proxy can overlook their independent local roots and political objectives.
• Their rise is closely connected to Yemen’s internal political, economic, tribal and sectarian conflicts.
• Oman has maintained a comparatively neutral position and has played a role in efforts towards peace negotiations.

ARAB SPRING 

Origin of the Arab Spring

• The Arab Spring began in December 2010 in Tunisia after Mohamed Bouazizi, a street vendor, set himself on fire in protest against harassment and the seizure of his goods by local authorities.
• His death triggered the Jasmine Revolution, a mass protest movement demanding political freedom, social justice, economic opportunities and an end to authoritarian rule.
• Protests forced Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who had ruled for about two decades, to flee the country in January 2011.
• The Tunisian uprising inspired similar protests across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Major Uprisings

• Egypt: Mass protests began in January 2011, particularly at Tahrir Square. President Hosni Mubarak resigned in February 2011 after the military withdrew its support. The initial democratic transition was later reversed following the 2013 military intervention led by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
• Libya: Protests against Muammar Gaddafi developed into an armed conflict. NATO conducted an air campaign in 2011. Gaddafi was overthrown and killed, but Libya later descended into prolonged political and military conflict.
• Syria: Protests against Bashar al-Assad began in 2011 and were met with a severe government crackdown. The unrest developed into a civil war involving several domestic and foreign actors and contributed to a major refugee crisis.
• Yemen: Protests weakened President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who eventually transferred power to Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi through a Gulf-mediated agreement. Political instability later contributed to the Yemeni civil war.
• Bahrain: Pro-democracy protests, led largely by members of the country's Shia community, demanded political and economic reforms. The movement was suppressed with assistance from a GCC security force.
• Morocco, Algeria, Jordan and Oman: Governments introduced various political or economic concessions to contain protests.

Regional and Global Impact

• The Arab Spring demonstrated the ability of grassroots movements and social media to mobilise large populations against authoritarian governments.
• Its outcomes varied widely: Tunisia initially achieved democratic reforms, while Libya, Syria and Yemen experienced prolonged instability and conflict.
• The unrest contributed to civil wars, political instability, sectarian tensions and proxy conflicts in West Asia and North Africa.
• The conflicts in Syria, Libya and Yemen created large-scale refugee and humanitarian crises.
• Regional powers, including Iran, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, became increasingly involved in several conflicts.
• The crisis also affected regional security, migration, energy markets and international trade.

Arab Spring 2.0

• A new wave of large-scale protests emerged around 2019–20.
• Algeria: Protests forced President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to step down.
• Sudan: The military removed President Omar al-Bashir after prolonged protests.
• Iraq and Lebanon: Large protests highlighted grievances over corruption, poor governance and economic conditions.
• These movements were sometimes described as “Arab Spring 2.0” because of their similar demands and regional character.

Practice Question 

Q. With reference to the Houthis and the Arab Spring, consider the following statements:

1. The Houthi movement originated as a religious revivalist movement among the Zaidi community before evolving into a major political and military force. 
2. The Houthis captured Sanaa in 2014 during the political instability that followed the Arab Spring, eventually forcing President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi to leave the capital. 
3. Saudi Arabia's 2015 military intervention succeeded in removing the Houthis from northern Yemen and restoring the authority of the internationally recognised Yemeni government. 
4. The Arab Spring produced broadly similar political outcomes across the region, with most countries successfully transitioning from authoritarian rule to democratic governments.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 2 and 3 only
C. 2 and 4 only
D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Correct Answer: A. 1 and 2 only

Explanation

• The Houthis originated as a Zaidi religious revivalist movement and later developed into a political and military organisation. Hence, Statement 1 is Correct.
• The Houthis captured Sanaa in 2014, taking advantage of Yemen's political instability following the Arab Spring. President Hadi subsequently fled the capital. Hence, Statement 2 is Correct.
• Saudi Arabia launched Operation Decisive Storm in 2015, but the intervention did not succeed in removing the Houthis from northern Yemen. Hence, Statement 3 is Incorrect.
• The Arab Spring produced different outcomes across countries: Tunisia initially moved towards democratic politics, while Syria, Libya and Yemen experienced prolonged conflicts and instability. Hence, Statement 4 is Incorrect.