What to know about Yemeni rebel group, the Houthis

President Biden announced Thursday that the U.S. and U.K. conducted retaliatory strikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen as tensions rise in the Red Sea.

The Iran-backed rebel group has stepped up its strikes on ships, action that is seen as revenge against Israel for its war against Hamas in Gaza.

The strikes on ships have caused some of the largest shipping companies to suspend travel through the world’s most vital trade route.

The Houthis are believed to be armed by Iran, and there are fears their attack could escalate the conflict in Gaza into a wider regional war.

Who are the Houthis?

The Houthis are a Zaydi Shiite movement that has fought Yemen’s Sunni government since 2004. The Houthi movement began in the 1990s as a reaction to rising Saudi financial and religious influence.

The group took over Yemen’s capital in 2014 and seized control over much of the north by 2016.

Officials have repeatedly alleged that Iran and Hezbollah have provided the Houthis with weapons and financial support, but Iranian and Hezbollah officials have denied the claims, according to the Wilson Center.

In 2017, the group killed former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who left office in 2012 and once had a relationship with the Houthis.

The war in Yemen became the world’s worst humanitarian crisis in 2018. More than 22 million people, three-quarters of the country’s population, were in desperate need of aid, the United Nations declared.

The Houthis widened the scope of the conflict in early 2022, and now, the group has involved itself in the conflict in Gaza.

Why are the Houthis attacking ships?

Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel in a surprise attack Oct. 7 that killed 1,200 people. Israel, which has vowed retaliation for the attack and the group’s taking of more than 200 hostages, has killed more than 22,000 people in what many have declared a humanitarian crisis.

The Houthis have called for the death of Israel, the Wilson Center reported. The group has said it is striking in the Red Sea to prevent Israeli ships from reaching ports of Palestine until the conflict stops.

The Houthis have attacked commercial ships at least 26 times since Nov. 19 in a campaign they say targets Israel-based boats or boats heading to Israel. The Houthis say they are attempting to protect Palestinians as Israel continues its destructive and deadly war in Gaza, The Hill previously reported.

Earlier this year, shipping giant Maersk paused its operations through the Red Sea after the Houthis attacked one of its ships. The U.S., which was patrolling the Red Sea to protect commercial boats, responded to a distress call and sunk three Houthi boats.

Maersk joined several of the world’s largest shipping and oil companies, including BP in stopping travel through the corridor, which is expected to impact the global economy and shipping costs, as boats now must reroute around Africa.

President Biden announced Thursday that the U.S. joined with the U.K. to strike the Houthis as a “direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks,” as U.S. personnel, civilians and trade have been threatened in the region.

“I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary,” Biden said.

According to The Associated Press, the U.S. and U.K. bombed more than a dozen sites in Yemen used by the Houthis.

It’s the first time the U.S. has carried out a direct military offensive against the Houthis since the group began targeting ships in the corridor.

The strike is likely to provoke both the Houthis and Iran, The Hill reported, and threatens to spiral into a wider war.