81-751: The PLZ-45 or Type 88 is a 155 mm self-propelled howitzer developed by Norinco . It is based on Norinco's Type 89 (PLL-01) 155 mm/45-calibre towed gun-howitzer. The PLZ-45 self-propelled howitzer is used by the Chinese People's Liberation Army , the Algerian People's National Army , the Kuwait Army and the Saudi Arabian Army . Noricum , the arms division of the Austrian steel company Voestalpine , purchased
162-539: A GPS receiver . The PLZ-45 howitzer fires a range of Extended Range Full Bore (ERFB) ammunition, including High Explosive (ERFB/HE), Base Bleed High Explosive (ERFB-BB/HE), ERFB-BB/RA, ERFB/WP, ERFB/Illuminating, ERFB/Smoke, and ERFB-BB/Cargo. China obtained the Russian Krasnopol laser-guided projectile technology in the 1990s, and successfully developed its own 155 mm laser-guided ammunition. Designed to defeat armoured vehicles and weapon emplacements,
243-712: A Zaidi revival" in Saada. By 1994–95, between 15,000 and 20,000 students had attended BY summer camps. The religious material included lectures by Mohammed Hussein Fadhlallah (a Lebanese Shia scholar) and Hassan Nasrallah (Secretary General of Hezbollah ). The formation of the Houthi organisations has been described by Adam Baron of the European Council on Foreign Relations as a reaction to foreign intervention. Their views include shoring up Zaydi support against
324-509: A 2015 September report by Esquire magazine , the Houthis, once the outliers, are now one of the most stable and organised social and political movements in Yemen. The power vacuum created by Yemen's uncertain transitional period has drawn more supporters to the Houthis. Many of the formerly powerful parties, now disorganised with an unclear vision, have fallen out of favour with the public, making
405-515: A UAE-based newspaper reported that one of the Yemeni Jews, who emigrated to Israel in 2016, was fighting with the Houthis. In the same month a Kuwaiti newspaper, al-Watan , reported that a Yemeni Jew named Haroun al-Bouhi was killed in Najran while fighting with the Houthis against Saudi Arabia. The Kuwaiti newspaper added that the Yemeni Jews had a good relationship with Ali Abdullah Salah, who
486-422: A belief attributed to Jaroudism, a fundamentalist offshoot of Zaydism. The group has also exploited the popular discontent over corruption and reduction of government subsidies. According to a February 2015 Newsweek report, Houthis are fighting "for things that all Yemenis crave: government accountability, the end to corruption, regular utilities, fair fuel prices, job opportunities for ordinary Yemenis and
567-483: A book titled Malazim (Fascicles), a work treated by Houthis as more important than older Zaydi theological traditions, resulting in repeated disputes with established Zaydi religious leaders. The Malazim reflect a number of different religious and ideological influences, including by Khomeinism and revolutionary Sunni Islamist movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood . Hussein al-Houthi believed that
648-664: A cleric-led government after the model of Islamic Republic of Iran, for "we cannot apply this system in Yemen because the followers of the Shafi ( Sunni ) doctrine are bigger in number than the Zaydis". In 2018, the Houthi leadership proposed the establishment of a non-partisan transitional government composed of technocrats. Ali Akbar Velayati , International Affairs Advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , stated in October 2014 that "We are hopeful that Ansar-Allah has
729-688: A common caliber between the Royal Navy and the British Army . Despite superficially appearing to be inferior based on a simple comparison of round diameters, when firing conventional ammunition the smaller, 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun is comparable to the standard 155 mm (6.1 in) gun-howitzer of the British Army. The standard shell from a 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun has the same, if not better, range. Only by using rocket-assisted projectiles (RAPs) can most 155 mm (6.1 in) guns have comparable range to
810-480: A crew of five (commander, gunner, two loaders and a driver), the PLZ-45 is armed with a 155 mm, 45-calibre main gun, with a semi-automatic loader and an electrically controlled and hydraulically operated ram that enables projectile loading to take place at any angle of elevation with the charge being loaded manually. The turret has an elevation of +72 to –3 degrees with 360 degree traverse. Secondary weapons include
891-529: A domestic production of shells. As of December 2022, the production rate was "in the thousands". The US declared its plans to increase the production to 90,000 per month, to reach 1,000,000 shells per year in 2025. Rheinmetall said it was ready to boost production to 500,000 per year. In summer 2023, the EU approved a plan that provides for the production of 650,000 large-calibre ammunition per year, and pledged to supply one million artillery shells to Ukraine over
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#1732801969301972-526: A good compromise between range and power, while using just a single caliber greatly simplifies the logistics burden. This has led to the obsolescence of larger caliber artillery shells such as the 175 and 203 mm (6.9 and 8.0 in). Some militaries continue to retain the smaller 105 mm (4.1 in) weapons for their light weight and greater portability. Russia and former Eastern Bloc countries tend to use 122, 130, and 152 mm (4.8, 5.1, and 6.0 in) artillery in similar roles. Since
1053-631: A gulf coalition airstrike in Yemen . The military coalition included the United States which helped in planning of airstrikes, as well as logistical and intelligence support. The US Navy has actively participated in the Saudi-led naval blockade of Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen, which humanitarian organizations argue has been the main contributing factor to the outbreak of famine in Yemen . The four-month long Battle of Aden (2015) occurred between 25 March 2015 and 22 July. According to
1134-546: A major nationalist force. When armed conflict for the first time erupted back in 2004 between the Yemeni government and Houthis, the President Ali Abdullah Saleh accused the Houthis and other Islamic opposition parties of trying to overthrow the government and the republican system. However, Houthi leaders, for their part, rejected the accusation by saying that they had never rejected the president or
1215-711: A mixed ideology with religious, Yemeni nationalist, and big tent populist tenets, imitating Hezbollah . Outsiders have argued that their political views are often vague and contradictory and that many of their slogans do not accurately reflect their aims. According to researcher Bernard Haykel, the movement's founder Hussein al-Houthi was influenced by a variety of different religious traditions and political ideologies, making it difficult to fit him or his followers into existing categories. The Houthis have portrayed themselves as national resistance, defending all Yemenis from outside aggression and influences, as champions against corruption, chaos, and extremism, and as representative for
1296-614: A number of mass gatherings since the revolution. On 24 January 2013, thousands gathered in Dahiyan, Sa'dah and Heziez, just outside Sanaa, to celebrate Mawlid al-Nabi , the birth of Mohammed. A similar event took place on 13 January 2014 at the main sports' stadium in Sanaa. On this occasion, men and women were completely segregated: men filled the open-air stadium and football field in the centre, guided by appointed Houthi safety officials wearing bright vests and matching hats; women poured into
1377-505: A roof-mounted W-85 heavy machine gun and two sets of four-barrel smoke grenade launchers on the turret's side. Ammunition is stored at the rear of the turret. A total of 30 rounds for the gun-howitzer and 480 rounds for the machine gun are carried on board. 24 howitzer rounds are carried in the loader and 6 rounds on the right side below the loader. The fire-control system of the PLZ-45 includes an automatic laying system, optical sighting system, gun orientation and navigation system , and
1458-463: A wedding party if it was not broadcast by loadspeakers. When the party guests did not conform to this demand, the main wedding singer was arrested. Journalist Robert F. Worth stated that "many secular-minded Yemenis seem unsure whether to view the Houthis as oppressors or potential allies." In general, the Houthis' policies are often decided on a local basis, and high-ranking Houthi officials are often incapable of checking regional officers' powers, making
1539-679: Is fitted with NBC protection and automatic fire suppression systems. In April 2015, the Saudi Arabian Army used the PLZ-45 for shelling Houthi rebels along the Saudi Arabia–Yemen border during the Saudi Arabian–led intervention in the Yemeni Civil War . This was the first time the PLZ-45 has been used in combat. In late 2015, Kuwait sent an artillery battalion to Saudi Arabia to assist its Saudi ally against
1620-590: The Houthi tribe . Under the leadership of Zaidi religious leader Hussein al-Houthi , the Houthis emerged as an opposition movement to Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh , whom they accused of corruption and being backed by Saudi Arabia and the United States . In 2003, influenced by the Lebanese Shia political and military organization Hezbollah , the Houthis adopted their official slogan against
1701-596: The PLL-01 , which entered service in 1987. They also mounted it on a locally designed tracked chassis to produce the PLZ-45 (also known as the Type 88), along with an ammo-carrier based on the same chassis. The PLZ-45 did not enter service with the PLA primarily because their existing artillery was all based on Soviet-standard 152 mm ammunition. However, two major batches of PLZ-45s were sold to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Operated by
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#17328019693011782-462: The Red Sea and started erecting barricades north of Sanaa in preparation for more conflict. By September 2014, Houthis were said to control parts of the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, including government buildings and a radio station. While Houthi control expanded to the rest of Sanaa, as well as other towns such as Rada' , this control was strongly challenged by Al-Qaeda . The Gulf States believed that
1863-539: The Type 85 APC . These are supported by W653A armoured recovery vehicles , 704-1 artillery locating and fire correction radar, 702-D meteorological radar, and fire support maintenance vehicles. The PLZ-45 self-propelled howitzer is powered by a 525 hp Deutz turbocharged air-cooled diesel engine, giving a max road speed of 55 km/h (34 mph). The armour of the PLZ-45 self-propelled howitzer protects against small arms fire and artillery shell splinters. It
1944-552: The US Navy 's Advanced Gun System (AGS) also uses a 155 mm (6.1 in) caliber, it is not compatible with NATO-standard 155 mm (6.1 in) ammunition. Only one type of ammunition was ever developed and procurement was discontinued in 2016 due to its high cost, making the AGS unusable. Compatible with NATO projectiles: Unknown compatibility: As of February 2023 –March 2023, Ukraine was firing up to 10,000 artillery shells per day, with
2025-573: The "Houthification" of the education system to "instil Huthi values and mobilise the youth to join the fight against the coalition forces". However, the Houthis have been inconsistent in regards how to deal with forms of artistic expression which they disapprove of. The movement has allowed radio stations to continue broadcast music and content which the Houthis view as too Western, but also banned certain songs and harassed artists such as wedding musicians. In one instance which generated much publicity, Houthi policemen conditioned that music could be played at
2106-539: The "last exemplary" Zaydi scholar and leader was Al-Hadi ila'l-Haqq Yahya ; later Zaydi imams were regarded as having deviated from the original form of Islam. The Houthis' belief in the "Quranic Way" also includes the rejection of tafsir (Quranic interpretations) as being derivative and divisive, meaning that they have a low opinion of most existing Islamic theological and juridical schools, including Zaydi traditionalists based in Sanaa with whom they often clash. The Houthis claim that their actions are to fight against
2187-418: The 2011 reconciliation deal . In late 2014, the Houthis repaired their relationship with Saleh, and with his help they took control of the capital city. The takeover prompted a Saudi-led military intervention to restore the internationally recognized government , leading to an ongoing civil war which included missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia and its ally United Arab Emirates . Following
2268-618: The 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun and by doing so there is a reduction in the payload. This is because naval guns can be built much more strongly than land-based self-propelled gun-howitzers, and have much longer barrels in relation to caliber (for example the 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun has a barrel length of 55 calibers , while the standard AS-90 self-propelled gun has a barrel length of 39 calibers). This allows naval guns to fire heavier shells in comparison to shell diameter and to use larger propellant charges in relation to shell weight, leading to greater projectile velocities. Even without active cooling,
2349-540: The Gaza Strip . In January 2024, the United States and the United Kingdom conducted airstrikes against multiple Houthi targets in Yemen. There is a difference between the al-Houthi family and the Houthi movement. The movement was called by their opponents and foreign media "Houthis". The name came from the surname of the early leader of the movement, Hussein al-Houthi, who died in 2004. Membership of
2430-461: The Houthi broke down in late 2017, with armed clashes occurring in Sanaa from 28 November. Saleh declared the split in a televised statement on 2 December, calling on his supporters to take back the country and expressed openness to a dialogue with the Saudi-led coalition. On 4 December 2017, Saleh's house in Sanaa was assaulted by fighters of the Houthi movement, according to residents. Saleh
2511-584: The Houthi ideology "such as Muslim unity, prophetic lineages, and opposition to corruption [...] allowed the Houthis to mobilize not only northern Zaydis, but also inhabitants of predominantly Shafi'i areas." However, the group is known to have discriminated against Sunni Muslims as well, closing Sunni mosques and primarily placing Zaydis in leadership positions in Houthi-controlled areas. The Houthis lost significant support among Sunni tribes after killing ex-President Saleh. Many Zaydis also oppose
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2592-467: The Houthi movement has often acted as advocates for Zaydi revivalism in Yemen. Although they have framed their struggle in religious terms and put great importance in their Zaydi roots, the Houthis are not an exclusively Zaydi group. In fact, they have rejected their portrayal by others as a faction which is purportedly only interested in Zaydi-related issues. They have not publicly advocated for
2673-418: The Houthis chanted ' Death to America ', tomorrow they could be chanting 'Death to the president [of Yemen] ' ". In 2004, 800 BY supporters were arrested in Sanaa. President Ali Abdullah Saleh then invited Hussein al-Houthi to a meeting in Sanaa, but Hussein declined. On 18 June, Saleh sent government forces to arrest Hussein. Hussein responded by launching an insurgency against the central government but
2754-430: The Houthis had accepted aid from Iran while Saudi Arabia was aiding their Yemeni rivals. On 20 January 2015, Houthi rebels seized the presidential palace in the capital. President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi was in the presidential palace during the takeover but was not harmed. The movement officially took control of the Yemeni government on 6 February, dissolving parliament and declaring its Revolutionary Committee to be
2835-771: The Houthis' ideological background, the conflict in Yemen is widely seen as a front of the Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy war . According to Ahmed Addaghashi, a professor at Sanaa University , the Houthis began as a moderate theological movement that preached tolerance and held a broad-minded view of all the Yemeni peoples. Their first organization, "the Believing Youth" (BY), was founded in 1992 in Saada Governorate by either Mohammed al-Houthi, or his brother Hussein al-Houthi . The Believing Youth established school clubs and summer camps in order to "promote
2916-518: The Houthis' political ideology has gradually shifted from "heavily-religious mobilisation and activism under Husayn to the more assertive and statesmanlike rhetoric under Abdulmalik", its current leader. With strong support received by Houthis from the predominantly Zaydi northern tribes, the Houthi movement has often been described as tribalist or monarchist faction in opposition to republicanism. Regardless, they have managed to rally many people outside of their traditional bases to their cause, and became
2997-435: The Houthis, regarding them as Iranian proxies and the Houthis' form of Zaydi revivalism an attempt to "establish Shiite rule in the north of Yemen". In addition, Haykel argued that the Houthis follow a "a highly politicised, revolutionary, and intentionally simplistic, even primitivist interpretation of [Zaydism]'s teachings". Their view of Islam is largely based on the teachings of Hussein al-Houthi, collected after his death in
3078-648: The Houthis. 155 mm 155 mm (6.1 in) is a NATO -standard artillery shell caliber that is used in many field guns , howitzers , and gun-howitzers . It is defined in AOP-29 part 1 with reference to STANAG 4425. The 155 mm (6.1 in) caliber originated in France after the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871) . A French artillery committee met on 2 February 1874 to discuss new models for French fortress and siege artillery, among which there
3159-516: The Houthis—under their newly branded Ansar Allah name—all the more attractive. Houthi spokesperson Mohamed Abdel Salam stated that his group had spotted messages between the UAE and Saleh three months before his death. He told Al-Jazeera that there was communication between Saleh, UAE and a number of other countries such as Russia and Jordan through encrypted messages. The alliance between Saleh and
3240-656: The Palestinians and aiming to facilitate entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip . On 31 October Houthi forces launched ballistic missiles at Israel, which were shot down by Israel's Arrow missile defense system. Israeli officials claimed that this was the first ever combat to occur in space . In order to end the attacks in the Red Sea, the Houthis demanded a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to Israel's blockade of
3321-492: The Saudi invasion. The movement's expressed goals include combating economic underdevelopment and political marginalization in Yemen while seeking greater autonomy for Houthi-majority regions of the country. One of its spokesperson Mohammed al-Houthi claimed in 2018 that he supports a democratic republic in Yemen. The Houthis have made fighting corruption the centerpiece of their political program. The Houthis have also held
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3402-538: The Saudis, who spent tens of billions of dollars on their military. The Houthis participated in the 2011 Yemeni Revolution , as well as the ensuing National Dialogue Conference (NDC). However, they rejected the provisions of the November 2011 Gulf Cooperation Council deal on the ground that "it divide[d] Yemen into poor and wealthy regions" and also in response to assassination of their representative at NDC. As
3483-510: The US. The Houthis have been accused of expelling or restricting members of the rural Yemeni Jewish community , which had about 50 remaining members. Reports of abuse include Houthi supporters bullying or attacking the country's Jews. Houthi officials have denied any involvement in the harassment, asserting that under Houthi control, Jews in Yemen would be able to live and operate freely as any other Yemeni citizen. "Our problems are with Zionism and
3564-676: The United States, Israel, and the Jews. Al-Houthi resisted Saleh's order for his arrest, and was afterwards killed by the Yemeni military in Saada in 2004, sparking the Houthi insurgency . Since then, the movement has been mostly led by his brother Abdul-Malik al-Houthi . The organization took part in the Yemeni Revolution of 2011 by participating in street protests and coordinating with other Yemeni opposition groups . They joined Yemen's National Dialogue Conference but later rejected
3645-562: The acting authority in Yemen. On 20 March the al-Badr and al-Hashoosh mosques came under suicide attack during midday prayers, and the Islamic State quickly claimed responsibility. The blasts killed 142 Houthi worshippers and wounded more than 351, making it the deadliest terrorist attack in Yemen's history. On 27 March 2015, in response to perceived Houthi threats to Sunni factions in the region, Saudi Arabia along with Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Sudan led
3726-491: The adjacent indoor stadium, led inside by security women distinguishable only by their purple sashes and matching hats. The indoor stadium held at least five thousand women—ten times as many attendees as the 2013 gathering. The Houthis are said to have "a huge and well-oiled propaganda machine". They have established "a formidable media arm" with the Lebanese Hezbollah's technical support. The format and content of
3807-523: The alleged expansion of Salafism in Yemen, and for the defence of their community from discrimination. In the years before the rise of the Houthi movement, state-supported Salafis had harassed Zaydis and destroyed Zaydi sites in Yemen. After their rise to power in 2014, the Houthis consequently "crushed" the Salafi community in Saada Governorate and mostly eliminated the al-Qaeda presence in
3888-426: The areas under their control; the Houthis view al-Qaeda as "Salafi jihadists" and thus "mortal enemies". On the other side, between 2014 and 2019, the Houthi leadership have signed multiple co-existence agreements with the Salafi community; pursuing Shia-Salafi reconciliation. The Yemeni government has often accused the Houthis of collaborating with al-Qaeda to undermine its control of southern Yemen. In general,
3969-501: The average monthly rate of 90,000–110,000 of 155 mm shells. In March 2023, the Ukrainian defense minister asked allies for 250,000 of such shells per month. Before the start of the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022), the United States produced 14,400 shells per month. As of March 2023 , the rate has increased to 20,000 per month. Germany's Rheinmetall was producing 60,000–70,000 per year in 2022. Ukraine has
4050-434: The country's crisis. Though not opposed to these plans per se , they have declined any plans which would in their eyes marginalize the northern tribes politically. Meanwhile, their opponents have asserted that the Houthis desire to institute Zaydi religious law, destabilising the government and stirring anti-American sentiment. In contrast, Hassan al-Homran, a former Houthi spokesperson, has said that "Ansar Allah supports
4131-487: The decision and to demand resignation of the incumbent government of Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi for "state-corruption". These protests developed into the 2014–2015 phase of the insurgency. Similarly, following 2015 Saudi-led airstrikes against Houthis which claimed civilians lives, Yemenis responded to the Abdul-Malik al-Houthi 's call and took to streets of the capital, Sanaa, in tens of thousands to voice their anger at
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#17328019693014212-623: The design rights to the GC-45 howitzer after Space Research Corporation moved to Brussels. They made a number of detail changes to improve mass production, resulting in the GHN-45 (Gun, Howitzer, Noricum), which was offered in a variety of options like the APU and fire-control systems . Once out of prison, Gerald Bull was soon contacted by China. The PLA also used the Noricum version, producing it as
4293-585: The end of World War II , the 155 mm (6.1 in) caliber has not found any use among naval forces despite its ubiquity on land with most NATO and aligned navies using 76 mm (3.0 in), 100 mm (3.9 in), 114 mm (4.5 in), or 127 mm (5.0 in) guns on modern warships. At one point the British Ministry of Defence studied "up-gunning" the Royal Navy 's 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval guns to give increased firepower and
4374-559: The end of Western influence". In forging alliances, the Houthi movement has been opportunistic, at times allying with countries it later declared its enemy such as the United States. In general, the Houthi movement has centered its belief system on the Zaydi branch of Islam , a sect of Islam almost exclusively present in Yemen. Zaydis make up about 25 percent of the population, Sunnis make up 75 percent. Zaydi-led governments ruled Yemen for 1,000 years up until 1962. Since its foundation,
4455-488: The establishment of a civil state in Yemen. We want to build a striving modern democracy. Our goals are to fulfil our people's democratic aspirations in keeping with the Arab Spring movement." In an interview with Yemen Times , Hussein al-Bukhari, a Houthi insider, said that Houthis' preferable political system is a republic with elections where women can also hold political positions, and that they do not seek to form
4536-420: The first specific attack to which the Houthi admitted, and the first to result in deaths. A response led by Saudi Arabia included a 21 January air strike on a detention centre in Yemen, resulting in at least 70 deaths. Following the outbreak of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war , the Houthis began to fire missiles at Israel and to attack ships off Yemen's coast in the Red Sea , which they say is in solidarity with
4617-467: The followers of Baháʼí Faith of being "satanic" and agents for the western countries, citing a 2013 fatwa issued by Iran's supreme leader. During their campaigns against both the Saleh and Hadi governments, Houthis used civil disobedience. Following the Yemeni government's decision on 13 July 2014 to increase fuel prices, Houthi leaders succeeded in organising massive rallies in the capital Sanaa to protest
4698-548: The governments of America and Israel. Ali al-Bukhayti , the spokesperson and official media face of the Houthis, rejected the literal interpretation of the slogan by stating in one of his interviews that "We do not really want death to anyone. The slogan is simply against the interference of those governments [i. e., U.S. and Israel]". In the Arabic Houthi-affiliated TV and radio stations they use religious connotations associated with jihad against Israel and
4779-544: The group had between 1,000 and 3,000 fighters as of 2005 and between 2,000 and 10,000 fighters as of 2009. In 2010, the Yemen Post claimed that they had over 100,000 fighters. According to Houthi expert Ahmed Al-Bahri, by 2010, the Houthis had a total of 100,000–120,000 followers, including both armed fighters and unarmed loyalists. As of 2015, the group is reported to have attracted new supporters from outside their traditional demographics. The Houthi movement follows
4860-405: The group's leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi 's televised speeches are said to have been modeled after those of Hezbollah's Secretary General, Hassan Nasrallah . Following the peaceful youth uprising in 2011, the group launched its official TV channel, Almasirah . "The most impressive part" of Houthi propaganda, though, is their media print which includes 25 print and electronic publications. One of
4941-458: The heavier naval gun barrels allow a faster sustained rate of fire than field guns, and this is exploited with an autoloading system with a capacity of several hundred rounds. The 155 mm (6.1 in) is better than the 4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun for firing cannon-launched guided projectiles (CLGP) as the lower velocity of the 155 mm (6.1 in) shell makes it much easier for the projectiles' internal electronic guidance systems to survive being fired. While
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#17328019693015022-541: The interests of marginalized tribal groups and the Zayidi sect. Haykel argues that the Houthi movement has two central religious-ideological tenets. The first is the " Quranic Way", and which encompasses the belief that the Quran does not allow for interpretation and contains everything needed to improve Muslim society. The second is the belief in the absolute, divine right of Ahl al-Bayt (Prophet's descendants) to rule,
5103-402: The latter at least disempower more radical jihadists. The Houthis field their own women security force and have a Girl Scouts wing. However, it has been also been reported that Houthis harass women and restrict their freedoms of movement and expression. In regards to culture, the Houthis try to spread their views through propaganda using mainstream media, social media, and poetry as well as
5184-579: The most versatile form of Houthi mass media are the zawamil , a genre of primarily tribal oral poetry embedded in Yemen's social fabric. The zamil , rooted in cultural tradition, has been weaponised by the Houthis as a tool of propaganda and remains one of the most popular and rapidly growing platforms of Houthi propaganda, sung by popular vocalists like Issa Al-Laith and disseminated through various social media platforms including YouTube, Twitter and Telegram. The Spectator describes Houthi zawamil as its most successful part of their propaganda, stressing
5265-402: The movement's claimed virtues of piety, bravery and poverty in comparison with the corruption, wealth and hypocrisy of their adversaries, the Saudi-led coalition, and Arab states allied to Israel. Houthis also utilize radios as an effective means of spreading influence, storming radio stations and confiscating equipment of radio stations that do not adhere to what they're allowed to broadcast by
5346-504: The next 12 months. Houthi movement The Houthi movement ( / ˈ h uː θ i / ; Arabic : الحوثيون , romanized : al-Ḥūthiyūn [al.ħuː.θi.juːn] ), officially the Ansar Allah Movement , is a Zaydi Shia Islamist political and military organization that emerged from Yemen in the 1990s. It is predominantly made up of Zaidi Shias , with their namesake leadership being drawn largely from
5427-599: The occupation of Palestine, but Jews here have nothing to fear", said Fadl Abu Taleb, a spokesman for the Houthis. Despite insistence by Houthi leaders that the movement is not sectarian, a Yemeni Jewish rabbi has reportedly said that many Jews remain terrified by the movement's slogan. As a result, Yemeni Jews reportedly retain a negative sentiment towards the Houthis, who they allege have committed persecutions against them. According to Israeli Druze politician Ayoob Kara , Houthi militants had given an ultimatum telling Jews to "convert to Islam or leave Yemen". In March 2016,
5508-408: The outbreak of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war , the Houthis began to fire missiles at Israel and to attack ships off Yemen's coast in the Red Sea , which they say is in solidarity with the Palestinians and aiming to facilitate entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip . The Houthi movement attracts followers in Yemen by portraying themselves as fighting for economic development and the end of
5589-474: The perceived threat of Saudi-influenced ideologies in Yemen and a general condemnation of the former Yemeni government's alliance with the United States, which, along with complaints regarding the government's corruption and the marginalisation of much of the Houthis' home areas in Saada, constituted the group's key grievances. Although Hussein al-Houthi, who was killed in 2004, had no official relation with Believing Youth (BY), according to Zaid, he contributed to
5670-412: The political marginalization of Zaidi Shias, as well as by promoting regional political–religious issues in its media. The Houthis have a complex relationship with Yemen's Sunnis ; the movement has discriminated against Sunnis but has also allied with and recruited them. The Houthis aim to govern all of Yemen and support external movements against the United States, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. Because of
5751-468: The projectile has inertial mid-course guidance and semi-active laser homing. The projectile has a range of 3–20 km (1.9–12.4 mi), and can hit a target by the first shot without registration. A standard PLZ-45 battalion consists of 3 batteries , each with 6 PLZ-45 self-propelled howitzers (SPH) and 6 PCZ-45 ammunition support vehicles (ASV). Each battery has a battery command post and 3 battery reconnaissance vehicles (BRV), both of which are based on
5832-587: The radicalisation of some Zaydis after the 2003 invasion of Iraq . BY-affiliated youth adopted anti-American and anti-Jewish slogans, which they chanted in the Al Saleh Mosque in Sanaa after Friday prayers. According to Zaid, the followers of Houthi's insistence on chanting the slogans attracted the authorities' attention, further increasing government worries over the extent of the Houthi movement's influence. "The security authorities thought that if today
5913-410: The republican system, but were only defending themselves against government attacks on their community. After their takeover of northern Yemen in 2014, the Houthis remained committed to republicanism and continued to celebrate republican holidays. The Houthis have an ambivalent stance on the possible transformation of Yemen into a federation or the separation into two fully independent countries to solve
5994-666: The restoration of the old Zaydi imamate , although analysts have argued that they might plan to restore it in the future. Most Yemenis have a low opinion of the old imamate, and Hussein al-Houthi also did not advocate the imamate's restoration. Instead, he proposed a "Guiding Eminence" ( alam al-huda ), an individual descended from the Prophet who would act as a "universal leader for the world", though never defined this position's prerogatives or how they should be appointed. The movement has also recruited and allied with Sunni Muslims; according to researcher Ahmed Nagi, several themes of
6075-455: The revolution went on, Houthis gained control of greater territory. By 9 November 2011, Houthis were said to be in control of two Yemeni governorates (Saada and Al Jawf) and close to taking over a third governorate (Hajjah), which would enable them to launch a direct assault on the Yemeni capital of Sanaa . In May 2012, it was reported that the Houthis controlled a majority of Saada, Al Jawf, and Hajjah governorates; they had also gained access to
6156-833: The same role in Yemen as Hezbollah has in eradicating the terrorists in Lebanon". Mohammed Ali al-Houthi criticized the Trump-brokered Abraham Accords between Israel and the United Arab Emirates as "betrayal" against the Palestinians and the cause of pan-Arabism . The Houthis' treatment of women and their restrictions on the arts has been subject of debate. On one side, the movement has stated that it defends women's rights to vote and take public offices, and some feminists have fled from government-held areas into Houthi territories as
6237-454: The treatment of civilians dependent on the area. The group's slogan reads as following: " God Is Great , Death to America , Death to Israel , Curse on the Jews , Victory to Islam ". This motto is partially modelled on the motto of revolutionary Iran , which reads "Death to U.S., and death to Israel ". Some Houthi supporters stress that their ire for the U.S. and Israel is directed toward
6318-586: Was a weapon in the 14–16 cm (5.5–6.3 in) caliber range (later it became known as the De Bange 155 mm cannon ). After several meetings, on 16 April 1874 the committee settled on the 155 mm (6.1 in) caliber (in the subsequent program-letter of the committee, dating from 21 April 1874, the caliber was for the first time expressed as 155 mm (6.1 in)). Since the early 21st century, most NATO armies have adopted 155 mm (6.1 in) weapons as an all-purpose standard. They are seen as striking
6399-734: Was at that time allied with the Houthis and were fighting in different fronts with the Houthis. Al-Houthi has said through his fascicles: "Arab countries and all Islamic countries will not be safe from Jews except through their eradication and the elimination of their entity." A New York Times journalist reported being asked why they were speaking to a "dirty Jew" and that the Jews in the village were unable to communicate with their neighbors. The Houthis have been accused of detaining, torturing, arresting, and holding incommunicado Baháʼí Faith members on charges of espionage and apostasy, which are punishable by death. Houthi leader Abdel-Malek al-Houthi has targeted Baháʼís in public speeches, and accused
6480-401: Was killed by the Houthis on the same day. In January 2021, the United States designated the Houthis a terrorist organization, creating fears of an aid shortage in Yemen, but this stance was reversed a month later after Joe Biden became president. On 17 January 2022, Houthi missile and drone attacks on UAE industrial targets set fuel trucks on fire and killed three foreign workers. This was
6561-491: Was killed on 10 September. The insurgency continued intermittently until a ceasefire agreement was reached in 2010. During this prolonged conflict, the Yemeni army and air force were used to suppress the Houthi rebellion in northern Yemen. The Saudis joined these anti-Houthi campaigns, but the Houthis won against both Saleh and the Saudi army. According to the Brookings Institution , this particularly humiliated
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