ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the origins, ideology, capabilities, and threats of the Houthi Movement and its political arm Ansar Allah in Yemen. The backbone of Ansar Allah's ideology stems from the speeches of Hussein al-Houthi before he was killed in the first round of conflict on September 10, 2004. It provides an overview of the expanded capabilities of Ansar Allah over three periods: the six stages of the Northern Insurgency fought between 2004 and 2010, the 2011–2014 period of revolutionary upheaval and attempted negotiated transition, and the ongoing civil war that began in 2015. In an attempt to influence debate during the transition, Ansar Allah also developed an extensive media presence, with affiliated pundits providing interviews with national and international media. Ansar Allah developed considerably since their initial formation as part of a regional rebellion against the Yemeni government.
