OVERVIEW

Huthi Logo

The Huthi Movement, a.k.a. Ansarallah (Helpers of God), is a Shia Islamist political and military organization supported by Iran that controls much of northern Yemen and has attacked US, Israeli, Gulf Arab, and Western interests in the region. The Huthis emerged in the 1990s and seek autonomy for northern Yemen and decreased Western influence in the region. Starting in 2004, the Huthis led an insurgency against the Yemeni Government, and in 2014, the group took control of the capital, Sanaa.

During the 2014-2022 civil war, the Huthis fought the Yemeni Government—which was backed by Saudi Arabia and the UAE—and al-Qa‘ida’s affiliate in Yemen and other tribal elements. The Huthis also conducted strikes against Saudi Arabia and the UAE. From the start of the Israel-HAMAS conflict in 2023 until a ceasefire between Israel and HAMAS in October 2025, the Huthis attacked commercial and military ships around Yemen and conducted UAS and missile strikes against Israel. In March 2025, the US military began Operation Rough Rider to stop Huthi attacks on shipping; the Huthis sought de-escalation and reached a ceasefire with the United States in May 2025. As of January 2026, the group remains in conflict with the Yemeni Government and other Yemeni political factions.

OPERATING AREAS
Based in Northwest Yemen; conducts maritime attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden; has launched missile and UAS attacks at targets as far away as Israel and the Indian Ocean

MEMBERS
Estimated in the tens of thousands

TACTICS AND TARGETS
Since 2014, the Huthis have conducted attacks using a variety of advanced conventional weapons against Israel; Saudi Arabia the UAE US and allied military aircraft and international shipping and Western naval vessels. The group’s arsenal includes ballistic and cruise missiles, surface-to-air-missiles, one-way attack and reconnaissance UAS, naval mines, unmanned surface vessels, and unmanned underwater vessels. Since 2015, Iran has smuggled weapons to the Huthis, increasing the group’s ability to threaten regional stability. The Huthis developed its skill at land warfare during insurgency operations against Emirati, Saudi, and Yemeni forces from 2014 to 2022.

TERRORIST GROUP DESIGNATION
On 22 January 2025, the US Government announced the redesignation of the Huthis as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), which took effect on 4 March 2025. The State Department had previously designated the group as an FTO from 10 January through 16 February 2021. On 17 January 2024, the State Department designated the Huthis as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Group, a designation that remains in addition to the group’s FTO status.

KEY LEADERS

NOTABLE ATTACKS