Houthi movement expands influence in Yemen amid conflict with Saudi Arabia

The Houthi movement has evolved from a local Islamist revivalist group in northern Yemen into a militarized regional power. Since seizing the capital, Sanaa, in 2014, the Iran-backed movement has significantly expanded its influence, effectively acting as the closest entity to a functioning government in Yemen.

A fragile ceasefire between the Houthi movement, the Saudi-backed central government, and Saudi Arabia is currently under threat. Recent escalations include a Saudi-led preemptive strike on the Sanaa airport, which prompted the Houthi movement to respond by declaring a naval blockade on Saudi oil exports.

Analysts note that while Saudi Arabia has attempted to contain the militia for over a decade through military interventions and Western-backed alliances, the movement has continued to grow. The geopolitical tension is further complicated by the movement's ties to Iran.