Houthis
Encyclopedia
The Houthis are a Zaidi
Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen
. They have also been referred to as a "powerful clan," and by the title Ash-Shabab al-Muminin or Youthful Believers). The group takes its name from Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi
, their former commander, who was reportedly killed by Yemeni army forces in September 2004. Several other commanders, including, Ali al-Qatwani, Abu Haider, Abbas Aidah and Yousuf al-Madani (a son-inlaw of Hussein al-Houthi) have also been killed by Yemeni forces. The Houthi brothers' father Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group.
Membership of the group had between 1,000 and 3,000 fighters as of 2005 and between 2,000 and 10,000 fighters as of 2009. In the Yemen Post it has been claimed, however, that they had over 100,000 fighters. According to Houthi Expert Ahmed Al-Bahri
the Houthis had a total of 100,000-120,000 followers, including both armed fighters and unarmed loyalists.
The Houthis have asserted that their actions are for the defense of their community from the government and discrimination, though the Yemeni government has in turn accused them of wishing to bring it down and institute Shia religious law (Houthis have told people they are “praying in the wrong way” by raising their arms, as is the custom among Sunnis in Yemen), destabilise the government and "stirring anti-American sentiment
".
The Yemeni government has also accused the Houthis of having ties to external backers, especially the Iranian government (as Iran is a Shia-majority country). In turn, the Houthis have countered with allegations that the Yemeni government is being backed by virulently anti-Shia external backers including al-Qaeda
and the government of Saudi Arabia
(despite the fact that President
Ali Abdullah Saleh
is also Zaidi).
Through their armed uprisings, the Houthis have managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of 'Amran Governorate
, Al Jawf Governorate
and Hajjah Governorate
.
By November 9, 2011, Houthis were said to be in control of two Yemeni governorates (Sa'dah and al-Jawf) and close to taking over their third governorate (Hajjah), which would enable them to launch a direct assault on Yemeni capital Sana'a.
Zaidiyyah
Zaidiyya, or Zaidism is a Shi'a Muslim school of thought named after Zayd ibn ʻAlī, the grandson of Husayn ibn ʻAlī. Followers of the Zaydi Islamic jurisprudence are called Zaydi Shi'a...
Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
. They have also been referred to as a "powerful clan," and by the title Ash-Shabab al-Muminin or Youthful Believers). The group takes its name from Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi
Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi
Sheikh Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi was a Zaidi religious leader and former Yemeni member of parliament. He was an instrumental figure in the Sa'dah conflict against the Yemeni government, which began in 2004...
, their former commander, who was reportedly killed by Yemeni army forces in September 2004. Several other commanders, including, Ali al-Qatwani, Abu Haider, Abbas Aidah and Yousuf al-Madani (a son-inlaw of Hussein al-Houthi) have also been killed by Yemeni forces. The Houthi brothers' father Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group.
Membership of the group had between 1,000 and 3,000 fighters as of 2005 and between 2,000 and 10,000 fighters as of 2009. In the Yemen Post it has been claimed, however, that they had over 100,000 fighters. According to Houthi Expert Ahmed Al-Bahri
Ahmed Al-Bahri
Ahmed Al-Bahri is a Saudi Arabian footballer.-International career:Al-Bahri is also a member of the Saudi Arabian national team. He appeared for his country in the 2003 Arab Cup and was a member of the Saudi team at the FIFA World Youth Championship. He was recently called up to the squad to...
the Houthis had a total of 100,000-120,000 followers, including both armed fighters and unarmed loyalists.
The Houthis have asserted that their actions are for the defense of their community from the government and discrimination, though the Yemeni government has in turn accused them of wishing to bring it down and institute Shia religious law (Houthis have told people they are “praying in the wrong way” by raising their arms, as is the custom among Sunnis in Yemen), destabilise the government and "stirring anti-American sentiment
Anti-Americanism
The term Anti-Americanism, or Anti-American Sentiment, refers to broad opposition or hostility to the people, policies, culture or government of the United States...
".
The Yemeni government has also accused the Houthis of having ties to external backers, especially the Iranian government (as Iran is a Shia-majority country). In turn, the Houthis have countered with allegations that the Yemeni government is being backed by virulently anti-Shia external backers including al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
and the government of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
(despite the fact that President
President of Yemen
The President of the Republic of Yemen is the head of state of Yemen.Under the Constitution of Yemen, the president is also the supreme commander of the armed forces and head of the executive branch of the Yemeni government....
Ali Abdullah Saleh
Ali Abdullah Saleh
Field Marshal Ali Abdullah Saleh is the first President of the Republic of Yemen. Saleh previously served as President of the Yemen Arab Republic from 1978 until 1990, at which time he assumed the office of chairman of the Presidential Council of a post-unification Yemen. He is the...
is also Zaidi).
Through their armed uprisings, the Houthis have managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of 'Amran Governorate
'Amran Governorate
Amran is a governorate of Yemen.-Districts:*Al Ashah District*Al Madan District*Al Qaflah District*Amran District*As Sawd District*As Sudah District*Bani Suraim District*Dhi Bin District*Habur Zulaymah District*Harf Sufyan District...
, Al Jawf Governorate
Al Jawf Governorate
Al Jawf is a governorate of Yemen.-Districts:*Al Ghayl District*Al Hazm District*Al Humaydat District*Al Khalq District*Al Maslub District*Al Matammah District*Al Maton District*Az Zahir District*Bart Al Anan District*Khabb wa ash Sha'af District...
and Hajjah Governorate
Hajjah Governorate
Hajjah is a governorate of Yemen. Bordered by the Red Sea, it has its capital in Hajjah.-Overview:Claims have been made that this region along with Sa'dah and Al Hudaydah legally belong to Saudi Arabia due to irregularities in the Treaty of Taif and the fact that it was once part of Asir that was...
.
By November 9, 2011, Houthis were said to be in control of two Yemeni governorates (Sa'dah and al-Jawf) and close to taking over their third governorate (Hajjah), which would enable them to launch a direct assault on Yemeni capital Sana'a.
Leaders
- Hussein Badreddin al-HouthiHussein Badreddin al-HouthiSheikh Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi was a Zaidi religious leader and former Yemeni member of parliament. He was an instrumental figure in the Sa'dah conflict against the Yemeni government, which began in 2004...
- Ex-leader (killed in 2004) - Abdul-Malik Badreddin al-Houthi - Leader
- Yahia Badreddin al HouthiYahia Badreddin al HouthiYahia Badreddin al-Houthi is the spiritual leader of Zaydi rebels who are fighting against the Government of Yemen, known as the Houthis. He is a brother of current Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, late Houthi leader Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi and Abdul-Karim al-Houthi.Al-Houthi cosigned a...
- Political Leader resides in Germany - Abdul-Karim Badreddin al-Houthi - High ranking commander
- Badr Eddin al-Houti - Spiritual Leader (died in 2010)
- Abdullah ar-Ruzami - Ex-military commander (captured in 2005)
- Mohammad Abdus-Salam
- Faris Manna - Houthi appointed governor of Sa'adah and former head of Saleh's Presidential commitee
Administration
The Houthis' independent administration includes the following territories:- All of Sa'adah Governorate
- Parts of 'Amran Governorate'Amran GovernorateAmran is a governorate of Yemen.-Districts:*Al Ashah District*Al Madan District*Al Qaflah District*Amran District*As Sawd District*As Sudah District*Bani Suraim District*Dhi Bin District*Habur Zulaymah District*Harf Sufyan District...
including:- Harf Sufyan DistrictHarf Sufyan DistrictHarf Sufyan District is a district of the 'Amran Governorate, Yemen. As of 2003, the district had a population of 42,480 inhabitants....
- Huth DistrictHuth DistrictHuth District is a district of the 'Amran Governorate, Yemen. As of 2003, the district had a population of 22,267 inhabitants....
- Harf Sufyan District
- Majority of Al Jawf GovernorateAl Jawf GovernorateAl Jawf is a governorate of Yemen.-Districts:*Al Ghayl District*Al Hazm District*Al Humaydat District*Al Khalq District*Al Maslub District*Al Matammah District*Al Maton District*Az Zahir District*Bart Al Anan District*Khabb wa ash Sha'af District...
, including:- Al Maton DistrictAl Maton DistrictAl Maton District is a district of the Al Jawf Governorate, Yemen. As of 2003, the district had a population of 28,411 inhabitants....
- Az Zahir DistrictAz Zahir DistrictAz Zahir District is a district of the Al Bayda' Governorate, Yemen. As of 2003, the district had a population of 25,704 inhabitants....
- Al Matammah DistrictAl Matammah DistrictAl Matammah District is a district of the Al Jawf Governorate, Yemen. As of 2003, the district had a population of 28,935 inhabitants....
- Al Maton District
- 40% of Hajjah GovernorateHajjah GovernorateHajjah is a governorate of Yemen. Bordered by the Red Sea, it has its capital in Hajjah.-Overview:Claims have been made that this region along with Sa'dah and Al Hudaydah legally belong to Saudi Arabia due to irregularities in the Treaty of Taif and the fact that it was once part of Asir that was...
, including:- Kuhlan Ash Sharaf DistrictKuhlan Ash Sharaf DistrictKuhlan Ash Sharaf District is a district of the Hajjah Governorate, Yemen. As of 2003, the district had a population of 44,760 people.The district is under control of the Shi'a militant group the Houthis, since November 2011...
- Kushar DistrictKushar DistrictKushar District is a district of the Hajjah Governorate, Yemen. As of 2003, the district had a population of 74,176 people....
(partially controlled by local tribesmen)
- Kuhlan Ash Sharaf District