Once known as a rebel faction in Yemen’s long-running civil war, the Iran-backed Houthi movement has become a major regional actor admired by some for its defiance of Israel during the Gaza war, but feared by many Yemenis living under its rule.
While international supporters praise the Houthis’ “resistance,” those inside Yemen describe a system built on fear, repression, and manipulation of food aid.
Interviews with hundreds of displaced Yemenis and dozens of aid workers, along with internal UN documents, reveal how the group sustains power: through forced indoctrination, mass detentions, and the diversion of international humanitarian assistance.
Life Under Houthi Control
Residents from Houthi-controlled northern Yemen told Reuters of a climate of fear where dissent invites imprisonment or worse. Civilians said they are forced to choose between starvation or loyalty to the movement.
“Be with them and take a food basket, or get nothing,” said Abdul-Salam, a farmer now living in a displaced camp.
Human rights groups report hundreds of arbitrary arrests, including of aid workers. The World Food Programme (WFP) said in August that 53 aid staff were being detained by Houthi authorities, describing “unacceptable interference” in humanitarian operations.
A Cult of Personality
Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi has ruled the movement for two decades without public appearances, communicating through televised speeches played across Yemen.
His image dominates billboards and mandatory state-run lectures, while slogans such as “Death to America, Death to Israel” echo through mass rallies in Sanaa.
Former teachers and civil servants said they were suspended or punished for refusing to attend indoctrination sessions. “The Houthis would visit my home, demanding donations to fund their weekly pro-Gaza rallies,” one teacher said.
Houthi officials deny claims of torture, forced attendance, or ideological coercion, calling them part of an “American-Zionist demonization campaign.”
Controlling the Aid Pipeline
Since 2015, the UN has raised $28 billion for Yemen’s humanitarian crisis about one-third of which went to food programs in Houthi-held areas.
But numerous aid diversions have been reported. Aid workers describe “ghost beneficiaries” fake names on food distribution lists and local officials redirecting supplies to Houthi fighters and loyalists.
The WFP froze operations in northern Yemen in 2023 after repeated interference, later resuming limited emergency distributions. “All WFP operations have come to a halt in the northern governorates,” a spokesperson confirmed.
Houthi officials dismissed the allegations, calling the WFP “an American arm” and insisting humanitarian data collection falls under Yemen’s “national security.”
Child Recruitment and Indoctrination
Displaced families told Reuters their children were pressured to join the Houthi military in exchange for food or protection.
Eighteen-year-old Abdel-Moghni al-Sinani said he was recruited at age ten, imprisoned and trained for combat. “They told us the road to heaven passed through the master’s blessing,” he said.
Human Rights Watch reports a surge in child soldier recruitment during the Gaza conflict. The Houthis deny the claim, saying such allegations are “fabrications.”
Hunger and Displacement
More than 17 million Yemenis face acute food insecurity, according to the IPC hunger monitor. In camps across government-held Aden, Lahj, and Marib, displaced families now survive on one meal a day.
“If we have breakfast, we don’t have lunch,” said Ismail, a father of five who now collects plastic bottles for income.
Others describe the daily search for scraps as a matter of survival. “We walk for hours to collect restaurant leftovers,” said mother-of-four Fola al-Hadi.
Why It Matters
The Houthis’ grip on aid, their expanding regional influence, and persistent human rights violations complicate international efforts to stabilize Yemen.
With the Gaza war reshaping Middle Eastern alliances, the Houthis have leveraged global attention to legitimize their rule even as ordinary Yemenis face deepening hunger and repression.
Future Outlook
Looking ahead, the global oil market will likely remain in flux as OPEC+ continues to navigate the balance between stabilizing prices and sustaining production. Analysts expect that if investment in oil and gas infrastructure remains sluggish, supply constraints could emerge in the medium term despite current oversupply fears.
However, accelerating renewable energy adoption and shifting climate policies may challenge OPEC’s long-term projections. Much will depend on how effectively member states can adapt production strategies while addressing growing international pressure for cleaner energy sources.
With information from Reuters.
