Euroviews. The Houthis are the epitome of 21st-century non-state actors

In recent years, the Houthi movement has emerged as yet another prominent non-state actor in the Middle East & North Africa, particularly within Yemen. 

Their actions have far-reaching implications, not only for the regional power balance but also for global trade and security. But for many, the question remains: who are they, and what is their end goal?

The group, formally known as Ansar Allah, is a Zaidi Shia-led religious-political movement that emerged in northern Yemen in the 1990s. 

They initially emerged as a theological movement protesting what they perceived as efforts to marginalise the Zaidi sect and the proliferation of foreign influence in Yemen. 

However, over the past two decades, they evolved into a significant military force and a major actor in the Yemeni civil war, which has pitted various domestic and regional forces against each other since 2004.

The primary political objective of the Houthis has remained consistent over time: to gain international recognition of a Houthi-dominated government in Yemen. 

Recently, however, their goals now include influencing affairs beyond Yemen’s borders. The Houthis have turned the Red Sea into a theatre for the group's assertiveness.

The strategic importance of a key shipping lane that has two of the world's 14 chokepoints cannot be overstated. 

More than 10% of global maritime trade, including about 5 million barrels of oil, transits this corridor every day. 

By attacking this artery of global trade, Houthi attacks not only disrupt vital supply chains, they also test the resolve of the international community. 

Each attack grants them global notoriety, all while increasing the relative costs of the West's collective reluctance to pressure Israel to abandon its war on Hamas.