Yemen’s Houthi rebels are becoming the fear and terror for the course of the world economy by threatening new attacks in the Red Sea.

Its attacks and threats have forced some of the world’s largest shipping and oil companies to suspend transit through one of the world’s most important sea trade routeswhich could potentially shock the global economy.

But who are the Houthis and why are they involved in war in the Gaza Strip?

Who are the Houthis?

The Houthi movement, also known as Ansarallah (Supporters of God), is one side of Yemen’s civil war that has been raging for nearly a decade. It emerged in the 1990s when its leader, Hussein al-Houthi, started it “Believing Youth”a religious movement to revive a centuries-old branch of Shiite Islam called Zaidism.

The Zaydis ruled Yemen for centuries, but were marginalized under the Sunni regime that came to power after the 1962 civil war. The Al Houthi movement was founded to represent the Zaydis and resist radical Sunnism, particularly Wahhabi ideas from Saudi Arabia. His closest followers became known as the Houthis.
How did they gain power?

Ali Abdullah Salehthe first president of Yemen since the unification of North and South Yemen in 1990, originally supported the “Believing Youth”. But as the movement’s popularity grew and anti-government rhetoric intensified, it became a threat to Saleh. Things came to a head in 2003, when Saleh supported the US invasion of Iraq, which many Yemenis opposed.

For al-Houthi, the rift was an opportunity. Taking advantage of public anger, he organized mass demonstrations. After months of turmoil, Saleh issued a warrant for his arrest.

Al Houthi was killed in September 2004 by Yemeni forces, but his movement continued. The Houthi military wing grew as more fighters joined. Emboldened by the first Arab Spring protests in 2011, they took control of the northern province of Saada and demanded the end of the Saleh regime.

How powerful are the Houthis?

American officials claim that the Houthis are constantly improving their equipment. At first, the Houthis’ domestic weapons were largely assembled with Iranian components smuggled into Yemen in piecesan official with knowledge of US intelligence told CNN.

But they have made progressive modifications that have added great overall improvements, the official said. In a new development, the Houthis used medium-range ballistic missiles against Israel, firing a barrage of projectiles into Israel’s southern region of Eilat in early December, which Israel said it intercepted.

While the Houthis may not be able to pose a serious threat to Israel, their technology may wreak havoc in the Red Sea.

Why are the Houthis attacking ships in the Red Sea?

While the Houthis may lack the capabilities of Hamas and Hezbollah, both geographically and technologically their strikes on merchant ships in the Red Sea may cause a different kind of problem for Israel and its allies.

The global economy has received a number of painful reminders of the importance of this narrow stretch of sea where 12% of global trade flows take place. There are fears that Houthi drone and missile attacks on merchant ships, which have occurred almost daily since December 9, could cause shock to the global economy.

Four of the world’s five major shipping lines – Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM Group and Evergreen – have announced they will stop shipping through Eritrea

Sea amid fears of Houthi attacks. Oil giant BP said on Monday it would do the same – a move that caused oil prices to rise and his natural gas.

Attacks could force ships to take a much longer route around Africa and cause insurance costs to rise. Companies could to pass on the increased costs of transporting their products to consumers, raising prices again at a time when governments around the world are struggling to tame post-pandemic inflation.

The Houthis say they will retreat only when Israel allows food and medicine into Gaza. His blows could they are intended to inflict financial pain on Israel’s allies in the hope that they will be pressured to stop shelling the enclave.

In the event of a Palestinian victory, it is probably an opportunity for them as well to gain legitimacy at home and in the region as they seek to control northern Yemen. It could also give them the upper hand against their Arab rivals, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.