How the Houthis fit into the Israel-Hamas conflict

Yemeni rebels have been called 'Iran's puppet,' but they pull many strings

- MICHELLE SHEPHARD AND KHALED AL-HAMMADI

The Houthis managed to seize Sanaa, the captial of Yemen, and its institutions in less than a month in September 2014.

In a war where public opinion is a powerful weapon, and truth among the casualties, enter the Houthis.

The Yemeni rebel group, which was redesignated by the U.S. as a terrorist organization this month, has emerged as a major player in the Israel-Hamas war since the dramatic hijacking of a cargo ship in November and a series of attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea.

Some analysts warn their current involvement may lead to an even wider regional conflict, while others argue it will increase international pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza.

What is undisputed is the fact that their greatest advantage is geography.

The Houthis control the waters of the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a vital corridor that marks the entrance of the Red Sea, one of the most important shipping routes in the world. Its name, meaning “Gate of Grief” due to the perils of navigating the unstable waters, feels particularly apt in the current geopolitical context.

In the past few months, the Houthis have attacked commercial vessels both by sea and by land, disrupting as much as $200 billion (U.S.) in international trade, according to some estimates.

In response, a U.S.-led coalition named “Operation Prosperity Guardian,” of which Canada is a member, came together to protect the waters. And since Jan. 11, the U.S. and U.K. have launched a series of retaliatory bombings targeting Houthi sites inside Yemen.

But so far, these military actions have not deterred the Houthis.

In fact, some argue this moment is exactly what the Houthis have been waiting for.