The Houthis
The Houthis are a shia muslim Extremist Organization originating from Northern Yemen. They have been involved in multiple conflicts within Yemen for several decades. The Houthi movement began in the 1990s as a revivalist movement aimed at protecting Zaidi religious and cultural identities. The Houthis advocate for greater autonomy for Yemen's Zaidi-populated regions and oppose what they see as foreign interference in Yemen's affairs. They have positioned themselves against Israel, the US and Western democracies in general and more recently Saudi Arabia.
The group's relationship with the Yemeni government has been marked by periods of fighting and uneasy truces. In September 2014, the Houthis took control of the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and later expanded their control to other parts of the country. The Houthis played a significant role in the Yemeni Civil War, which escalated in 2015. In March of 2015, Saudi Arabia got involved and created a coalition to restore the Yemeni central government through military action. The Houthis are major contributors to the uneasy regional dynamics involving both Saudi Arabia and Iran. ll begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
My interpretation:
It seems like the Houthis are a proxy force for Iran in the battle for regional dominance…that would be the battle between Saudi arabia and Iran. The Houthis are supported by Iran but the support seems to be intermittent and driven by Iran’s interest at the time, so it looks like to me that Iran is using the Houthis. Their interest and support in the Houthis is currently high due to the Israel-Gaza War because It serves Iran to use the Houthis to escalate conflict with Israel and that is exactly what they seem to be doing.
CAPABILITIES
Houthi forces, known for their resilience and adaptability, have developed a range of military capabilities that enable them to sustain a prolonged conflict in Yemen. They are very resourceful and not ashamed to take what they need, in fact stealing is how they acquire most of their equipment. Nearly all of the armor, anti-aircraft and small arms are stolen or confiscated from Yemeni forces or Saudi Arabian military. So, lets discuss their specific capabilities, which seem to be expanding year by year.
Personnel and Organization
Fighters: The Houthis reportedly have tens of thousands of fighters. Estimates vary, but their numbers have been bolstered by local recruits, including tribesmen and former Yemeni military personnel.
Weapons and Equipment
Small Arms and Light Weapons: The Houthis are well-equipped with AK-47s, machine guns, RPGs, and other small arms, often captured from Yemeni military stockpiles.
Artillery and Mortars: They possess a variety of artillery pieces and mortars, enabling them to conduct sustained bombardments.
Armored Vehicles: The group has captured and repurposed Yemeni army tanks and armored personnel carriers (APCs).
Anti-Aircraft Weapons: They have a range of anti-aircraft guns and MANPADS (man-portable air-defense systems).
Missiles and Drones
Ballistic Missiles: The Houthis have a stockpile of ballistic missiles, including short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) like the Burkan series, which are modified Scud missiles.
Cruise Missiles: They have deployed land-attack cruise missiles, such as the Quds series.
Drones: The Houthis have developed and deployed various drones for reconnaissance and attack purposes, including the Qasef and Samad series. These drones have been used effectively in strikes against coalition forces and infrastructure.
IEDs and Mines: They extensively use improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and landmines to disrupt enemy movements and supply lines.Naval Capabilities
Naval Mines: The Houthis have laid naval mines in the Red Sea, posing a threat to commercial and military vessels.
Explosive-Laden Boats: They have used remote-controlled explosive-laden boats to target coalition naval vessels and commercial shipping. Remember the USS Cole incident, well, that was the Houthis…
Cyber and Electronic Warfare
Cyber Capabilities: While limited, the Houthis have engaged in cyber activities, including hacking and propaganda dissemination.
Electronic Warfare: They have employed electronic jamming and countermeasures to disrupt coalition communications and drone operations.
Logistics and Supply Lines
Local and International Support: The Houthis have established effective supply lines within Yemen and receive support from Iran, including weapons, training, and financial aid. This is where they lean on Iran – the int’l lines of communication.
Smuggling Networks: They use sophisticated smuggling networks to import weapons and supplies through Oman and the Red Sea.
Public Support and Propaganda
Media Operations: The Houthis run media outlets to spread their propaganda, recruit fighters, and maintain public support.
Civic Administration: In areas under their control, they have set up administrative structures to govern and provide services, bolstering their legitimacy and support among the local population.
The Houthis base their operations primarily from the northern regions of Yemen, with their stronghold being in the Saada Governorate. Here are the key areas and bases of operation:
1. Saada Governorate
Saada City: The heartland of the Houthi movement, Saada City, serves as their primary stronghold and command center. It is the birthplace of the movement and remains a key logistical and operational hub.
Mountainous Terrain: The rugged, mountainous terrain of Saada provides natural defensive advantages, making it difficult for adversaries to launch effective attacks.
2. Sanaa
Yemeni Capital: The Houthis have controlled Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, since September 2014. This provides them with significant political and administrative leverage.
Military Installations: They have access to former government military bases and infrastructure in and around Sanaa, which they have repurposed for their use.
3. Hajjah and Amran Governorates
Strategic Locations: These governorates are strategically important due to their proximity to Saada and Sanaa. They serve as buffer zones and additional bases for launching operations.
Supply Routes: These areas are crucial for maintaining supply lines and communication with other controlled regions.
4. Hodeidah Governorate
Port City of Hodeidah: Although control has fluctuated, the port of Hodeidah is vital for the Houthis due to its importance for importing supplies. Control over this port allows them to sustain their operations and influence over the Red Sea coastline. So, this port city is where the IDF just recently retaliated against the Houthis, they struck the port and damaged container cranes and other vital port infrastructure…they knew exactly where to hit them…It took two hours and 50 minutes for the IDF F-15s, F-35s, and other fighter jets, which carried out around 10 airstrikes on Saturday evening against the Houthis, to reach their targets in the area of the Hodeidah Port in Yemen, the IDF announced on Sunday.
5. Al-Jawf and Marib Governorates
Frontline Areas: These regions are often frontlines of conflict between Houthi forces and Yemeni government forces supported by the Saudi-led coalition. Control in these areas is contested but strategically important for extending their influence and disrupting enemy supply lines.
6. Al-Bayda and Taiz Governorates
Expanding Influence: The Houthis have made attempts to extend their control into these governorates, which are crucial for controlling central Yemen and disrupting opposition movements.
Operational Bases and Infrastructure
Hidden Caches and Caves: The Houthis utilize a network of hidden caches, caves, and underground facilities in the mountainous regions of northern Yemen to store weapons and supplies.
Urban Areas: In cities like Sanaa and Hodeidah, they operate from repurposed government buildings, military installations, and civilian areas, blending in with the local population to complicate targeting by adversaries.
External Support
Border Areas with Saudi Arabia: The northern border areas, particularly near Saada, provide strategic depth and potential routes for smuggling weapons and supplies, allegedly with Iranian support.
Gathering and analyzing this intelligence is crucial for developing effective military strategies and operations when dealing with the Houthis as an adversary. I’ll probably add this to the standard lineup and begin providing intel updates, I read an interesting article RE: the tenacity of the Houthis in engaging shipping traffic in the red sea. It’s definitely a very concerning development, it’s difficult to fully comprehend the importance of maintaining the peace in the Red Sea shipping lanes.
