Houthis (Ansar Allah)
The Houthi movement, officially known as Ansar Allah, is a Zaydi Shia Islamist organization in Yemen and a primary Iranian proxy within the 'Axis of Resistance.' The group utilizes Iranian-supplied ballistic missiles and drones to target international shipping and Israeli territory, serving as a strategic southern front for the IRGC.
The Houthi movement, or Ansar Allah, emerged from Yemen's Saada Governorate as a Zaydi Shia revivalist group before evolving into a powerful military and political force. Since seizing the capital, Sanaa, in 2014, the group has been the primary antagonist in the Yemeni Civil War, fighting against the internationally recognized government and a Saudi-led coalition. Central to the Houthis' identity is their alignment with the Islamic Republic of Iran, which provides the group with advanced weaponry, including long-range ballistic missiles, loitering munitions (drones), and anti-ship technology. This support has transformed the Houthis from a local insurgent force into a regional threat capable of projecting power far beyond Yemen's borders.
For Israel, the Houthis represent a significant security challenge on the southern flank. As a member of the Iranian-led 'Axis of Resistance,' the group has increasingly targeted Israeli territory and Red Sea shipping lanes, framing these attacks as support for Palestinian terror groups. The group's slogan—the 'Sarkha'—explicitly calls for 'Death to America, Death to Israel, a Curse Upon the Jews.' This ideological hostility is backed by operational coordination with the IRGC and other proxies, such as Iraqi militias. In 2026, the movement escalated its regional campaign by ending a long-standing ceasefire with Saudi Arabia and launching coordinated strikes against Saudi infrastructure and maritime vessels. The IDF and Israeli defense leadership have signaled that Houthi leaders are legitimate targets for elimination should they continue to threaten Israeli sovereignty. Recent operations, including strikes on the Al-Mukha port, demonstrate the group's ongoing focus on disrupting regional logistics and arms supplies to their opponents.