Explainer: Who are the Houthis, Iran's allies in Yemen?

Yemen’s Saudi-backed government has announced the start of a military counteroffensive against the Iran-backed Houthis, aiming to seize areas under their control. Fighting between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia has intensified Yemen’s long-running civil war and increased risks to Red Sea shipping, disrupting Middle East energy exports already stressed by Iran’s influence around the Strait of Hormuz. The Houthis are a military, political and religious movement that effectively rules much of northwest Yemen and has targeted cargo ships and tankers. In November 2023 it attacked vessels in the Red Sea and launched drones and missiles toward Israel, citing support for Palestinians in the Gaza war.