Yemen's Houthis (Ansar Allah): impact of the Iranian proxy force on security in the region (in light of the crisis in the Red Sea)

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the activities of the Yemeni pro-iranian rebel group “Ansar Allah” (also called the Houthis) in the context of the maritime navigation crisis through the Red Sea that emerged at the end of 2023, which continues to this day. The relevance of the study lies in the fact that the activities of the Houthi group to effectively block most of the maritime traffic through the Red Sea have already caused significant economic damage, and the very safety of maritime navigation along the shortest route from Asia to Europe has actually been called into question. The object of the study is the Yemeni movement “Ansar Allah” (Yemen Houthis movement). The subject of the study is the activities and influence of the Houthi group on the international economy and the safety of maritime navigation through the Red Sea. The research methodology is based on general scientific research methods (content analysis, classification), as well as on special historical methods (narrative, historical-genetic). The scientific novelty of the article lies in a detailed analysis of the events of the crisis in the Red Sea, which began at the end of 2023 and is currently ongoing. The authors' particular contribution to the study is description of the activities of the Houthi movement in the Red Sea in the period from December 2023 to January 2024. Separately, the authors analyze the degree of influence of the crisis on Russia and possible ways to overcome it. In conclusion, the authors conclude that Iran, with the help of its proxy forces, was actually able to block an important sea route for international trade, as well as cause serious economic damage to Western countries and Israel. And the consequences of such damage could ultimately affect the rest of the world.