A brief backstory for context because many assume the unrest in Yemen started when the Houthis emerged from their northern enclave, as mainstream media likes to claim, and sacked Sanaa in late 2014.

Source: https://original.antiwar.com/joziah_thayer/2023/02/14/will-the-new-peace-deal-finally-end-the-conflict-in-yemen/

Another Houthi leader, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, warned of “painful options” available to the Houthis to “employ in response to any act of aggression against their homeland.”

Source: https://www.breitbart.com/middle-east/2023/12/19/houthis-threaten-u-s-red-sea-coalition-vow-no-end-to-attacks-unless-israel-lets-hamas-thrive/

A spokesperson for the Houthis said Israeli ships would continue to be targeted until the military operation against Hamas ends.

Source: https://gcaptain.com/galaxy-leader-threat-mideast-shipping/

A US terrorist designation would mean any entity that does business with the Houthis would be subject to US sanctions, making both steps impossible to implement without the parties involved facing penalties.

Source: https://news.antiwar.com/2023/12/12/us-threatens-to-kill-yemen-peace-deal-over-houthi-attacks-on-red-sea-shipping/

Deputy US National Security Adviser Jon Finer has said that the Biden administration has “not ruled out the possibility of taking military action” against the Houthis but the focus for now is on assembling a maritime coalition to secure the Red Sea.

Source: https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2023/12/12/751638.htm

Here are more details on Yemen’s Houthis claims of attacking Red Sea ships over the ongoing war between and Hamas on Sunday.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/dec/03/israel-hamas-war-live-israeli-attacks-on-gaza-continue-overnight-macron-warns-israels-plan-to-eliminate-hamas-risks-decade-of-war

In November, the Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship also linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen.

Source: https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-houthi-yemen-ships-attack-israel-hamas-war-gaza-strip-716770f0a780160e9abed98d3c48fbde

In recent days, however, a number of militant groups across the region — from Hezbollah to the Houthis — have expressed support for the Palestinians and threatened Israel.

Source: https://www.kurv.com/us-military-shoots-down-missiles-and-drones-as-it-faces-growing-threats-in-volatile-middle-east/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=us-military-shoots-down-missiles-and-drones-as-it-faces-growing-threats-in-volatile-middle-eas

Iran has supported Shia Houthi rebels who forced out the Saudi-backed government in 2014, while Saudi Arabia has led a devastating air campaign against the Houthis since the following year.

Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-64906996?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

It also lays out a detailed plan for talks between the Houthis and Saudi-backed factions in the country.

Source: https://therealnews.com/saudi-delegates-visit-yemeni-capital-sanaa-to-hold-talks-with-houthis

Major shipping companies are stopping transits through the Red Sea due to attacks from Yemen’s Houthis that have come in response to the Israeli onslaught in Gaza.

Source: https://news.antiwar.com/2023/12/17/shipping-giants-suspend-transits-through-red-sea-due-to-houthi-attacks/

Media reports say Saudi Arabia and the Houthis agreed on the draft of a ceasefire agreement last month, which lays out the plan for a more detailed negotiation.

Source: https://therealnews.com/saudi-delegates-visit-yemeni-capital-sanaa-to-hold-talks-with-houthis

Ryder noted that the coalition forces will conduct patrols in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to assist commercial ships crossing the international waterway and urge Houthis to cease their attacks.

Source: https://www.siasat.com/20-nations-to-protect-vessels-in-red-sea-gulf-of-aden-from-houthi-attacks-us-2939393/

Several hours later, a cargo ship en route from Turkey to India via the Red Sea was by the Houthis.

Source: https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2023/11/israel-faces-winter-storm-houthi-threats.php?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=israel-faces-winter-storm-houthi-threats

The Houthis are also an important arm of Iran’s “,” which includes armed groups across the Middle East — although Yemeni analysts and Saudi officials say they view the militia as a complex Yemeni group rather than a purely Iranian proxy.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/25/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-yemen-houthis-gaza.html

The Houthis have a decade-long history of harassing and attacking commercial vessels operating in the Gulf of Aden, the Bab al Mandeb Strait, and the Red Sea, and have stepped up attacks on shipping and the U.S. military over the past two weeks.

Source: https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2023/12/houthis-target-u-s-warship-commercial-vessels-in-the-red-sea.php?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=houthis-target-u-s-warship-commercial-vessels-in-the-red-sea

The Houthis have declared their support for Hamas and have said they would target any ship travelling to Israel.

Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-67817939?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

The Houthis seized Yemen's capital, Sanaa, in 2014 and forced the internationally recognized government into exile in Saudi Arabia.

Source: https://www.startribune.com/iran-saudi-arabia-agree-to-resume-ties-with-chinas-help/600257729/

The Houthis, which control large swaths of Yemen, have carried out over a 100 hijacking assaults on ships travelling through the Red Sea.

Source: https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/11727732/first-us-houthis-choppers-sink-boats-red-sea/

The Houthis would, of course, seek to exploit the complex geopolitics of the Israel-Palestine conflict to thwart the opposition.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/drone-strike-indian-navy-vessel-challenge-9082128/