How a Zaydi religious scholar became the central figure of Yemen's ongoing civil war

History · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Abdul-Malik al-Houthi rose from the northern mountains of Yemen to lead the Ansar Allah movement. Since 2004, he has transformed a regional religious group into a dominant political and military force, navigating international sanctions, foreign air strikes, and shifting global alliances to maintain his grip on the Yemeni state.

Born in 1979 in the Saada Governorate, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi is the youngest of eight brothers from a prominent Zaydi Shia family. His father, Badreddin, was a respected religious scholar, and his older brother, Hussein, founded the Houthi movement to promote Zaydi thought and challenge the perceived oppression of their community by the Yemeni government. Following Hussein's death in battle, Abdul-Malik assumed leadership of the organization in 2004, steering it through decades of conflict.

The movement's ascent to power was marked by a series of dramatic escalations. In January 2015, forces loyal to al-Houthi seized the presidential palace in Sana'a, forcing the resignation of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. This takeover triggered a massive intervention by a Saudi-led coalition, which has since subjected the region to extensive air strikes. Despite being a frequent target of these campaigns—and surviving multiple reports of his death—al-Houthi has remained the primary architect of the group's strategy, which includes vocal opposition to Western arms sales to the Saudi coalition.

Al-Houthi’s influence now extends well beyond Yemen's borders. In the context of the Gaza war, his movement has launched missiles and drones toward Israel, leading to direct threats from Israeli leadership. His political journey has been defined by a complex relationship with international bodies; he has faced UN sanctions and US Treasury designations, yet he has also engaged in diplomatic negotiations with UN envoys. Today, he remains a polarizing figure, viewed by supporters as a leader of an Islamic awakening and by his adversaries as a destabilizing force in the Middle East.

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