Houthis Launch Military Strikes on Saudi-Supported Yemeni Government Forces, Leaving at Least 30 Dead.

On August 6, 2023, the Houthi movement announced a military attack on the Saudi-backed government forces in the provinces of Marib and Hodeidah, with over 30 soldiers killed in the rocket strikes.

The Houthi movement, officially known as Ansar Allah, is a Zaidi revivalist and Shia Islamist political and military organization that emerged in the 1990s. The majority of its leaders hail from the Houthi family. The Houthi movement played a central role in the Yemeni civil war, earning widespread condemnation from the international community due to its brutality against civilians and the recruitment of child soldiers. Some countries have designated the Houthi movement as a terrorist organization. The movement is backed by Iran and is seen as part of Iran's "axis of resistance."

The Houthi movement's leader, Hussein Al-Houthi, emerged in the 1990s under the leadership of Zaidi religious leaders. The movement rose to prominence in opposition to Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, accusing him of corruption and receiving support from Saudi Arabia and the United States. In 2003, the Houthi movement adopted its official slogan targeting the United States, Israel, and Jews, influenced by the Lebanese Shia political and military organization Hezbollah. Al-Houthi ordered opposition to Saleh and was subsequently arrested, leading to an uprising in 2004. He was killed by Yemeni forces in Sa'da. Since then, the Houthi movement and Saudi-backed government forces have been the primary opposing factions in the Yemeni civil war.

The Houthi movement's military attacks have become a common occurrence on Yemeni soil, but its recent advance into the provinces of Marib and Hodeidah marks the first large-scale attack in recent times. The reasons behind the attack are unclear, but the Houthi movement's military actions have been met with counterattacks from Saudi-backed government forces.

The impact of the Houthi movement's military attack on Yemen's situation remains unclear, but it could further deepen the country's civil war and have implications for the entire Arabian Peninsula. For Taiwan, this incident does not directly affect its security or interests, but it can provide Taiwanese journalists and observers with a deeper understanding of the complexities and sensitivities in the Middle East. It can also enable Taiwanese diplomats and policymakers to better grasp the situation and developments in the region, allowing them to handle and respond to related international issues more effectively.