Houthi rebels in Yemen have again shown their strong ties with Iran. This group takes military, economic and political help from Iran. The Houthis have said that if needed, they will directly participate in the war in the Middle East. He warned that if any new powers, together with the US and Israel, attack Iran or its allies, or the Red Sea is used against Iran, then they will enter into active war.
The Israeli army said that a missile was fired from Yemen, causing alarm in the city of Beersheba and surrounding areas. This interference of Houthis can now open a new front of war in the Arabian Peninsula. The biggest concern is the threat of attacks on ships in the Red Sea, as the Houthis have previously attacked sea routes. In 2025, Donald Trump along with Britain launched a bombing campaign to stop the attacks of Houthis. In this campaign, many Houthi leaders were killed and thousands of targets were destroyed, but in the end a ceasefire was achieved under the agreement.
The Houthi movement, formerly known as Ansar Allah (Supporters of God), represents Yemen's Shia Muslims (Zaidi community). It is a political and religious group. Which is part of the Iran-led Axis of Resistance. The Houthis are standing against Israel, America and Western countries. This group also has allies like Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah.
The Houthi movement started in the 1990s. It was named after its founder Hussein al-Houthi. Currently it is being led by his brother Abdul Malik al-Houthi. The involvement of Houthis in the war may further increase the tension in the Middle East. This can pose a threat to regional security and sea routes.
At present, many groups are active in Yemen, Bahrain, Lebanon, Iraq and Palestinian territories, which are in support of Iran. If Houthi rebels become active in the Iran war, the scope of the regional war may increase. Also, there is a possibility of opening of a new front in Arabia. This may affect both peace talks and global trade.
If the Houthis open a new front, their main target could be the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. This route is very important, because it connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea and controls the passage of ships going towards the Suez Canal. It is one of the world's most important maritime choke points, the narrowest part of the Bab el-Mandeb is only 29 km wide, so there are just two channels for ships. Houthis have also launched attacks in this area before.
