Why Houthis Hate Saudi Arabia | Reason Behind War Between Yemen And Saudi Arabia | The Blueprint

Overview

The video argues that Houthi hostility toward Saudi Arabia has roots stretching back decades, rather than being driven only by recent regional conflicts or Iran’s influence.

Historical Background

Religious and Cultural Tensions

The video traces the origins to the late 1970s and 1980s, when Saudi-backed Wahhabi and Salafi institutions expanded in northern Yemen, a stronghold of Zaidi Shiism. Local communities viewed the schools and aid as an attempt to weaken their religious identity.

The Houthi Movement’s Beginnings

In the 1990s, Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi founded the “Believing Youth” as a cultural and educational movement. It opposed Saudi influence and accused Yemen’s central government, led by Ali Abdullah Saleh, of neglecting the north and accommodating Riyadh. After al-Houthi was killed in 2004, the movement became more militarized and came to be known as the Houthis.

Conflict and Intervention

Early Fighting with Saudi Arabia

The video describes six rounds of conflict between the Yemeni government and the Houthis from 2004 to 2010. Saudi Arabia initially supported the Yemeni government and intervened directly in 2009, helping establish a lasting military confrontation between the kingdom and the rebels.

The Takeover of Sana’a and Saudi Intervention

After the 2011 Arab Spring, Saudi Arabia helped broker a transition that replaced Saleh with Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, whom the Houthis regarded as Riyadh’s choice. When the Houthis took Sana’a in 2014 and Hadi fled to Saudi Arabia, Riyadh saw the movement’s control of Yemen as a major security threat.

In 2015, Saudi Arabia led a coalition intervention intended to restore Hadi and defeat the Houthis.

Consequences and Current Dynamics

Humanitarian Consequences and Iran’s Role

The video says the Saudi-led air campaign and restrictions on ports and supplies contributed to a severe humanitarian crisis, including hunger and disease. It argues that the war strengthened opposition to Saudi Arabia inside Yemen and pushed the Houthis to seek more support from Iran and Hezbollah. With that support, the Houthis developed drones and missiles capable of striking targets in Saudi Arabia.

The Cost Imbalance and Saudi Incentives to End the War

The video highlights the disparity between relatively inexpensive Houthi drones and the costly interceptors used to stop them. It points to the 2019 strike on Saudi oil facilities as a demonstration of the kingdom’s vulnerability.

The video concludes that Saudi Arabia now has strong economic reasons to seek a ceasefire, though negotiations have not yet produced a lasting agreement.

Presenters or Contributors

An unnamed narrator/presenter; no other contributors are identified.