Houthi soldier standing at a checkpoint in Sana’a. Xinhua/SIPA USA/PA Images. All rights reserved.Houthis’ missiles targeting Saudi Arabia became more developed and far-reaching during the current war, thus prompting questions about Iran’s role in Yemen. Many stories circulated about Iran smuggling weapons to Houthis despite the blockade and tight control on all air, land and sea ports in the country. It is also believed that Iranian experts are developing Houthis’ weapon capacities.
Articles and research papers either undermine the Iranian-Houthi relationship questioning any ties between them to appease Saudi Arabia’s concerns and dismiss its war on Yemen as unnecessary, or they represent Houthis as Iranian puppets, thus making the Saudi war a proxy one against Iran and serving the strategic goals of the kingdom. But, many facts prove that the truth lies somewhere in between.
Sectarian differences
It goes without saying that Iranians and Houthis have sectarian differences. Houthis are Shiite Zaidis, and Zaidism is a Shiite denomination found only in Yemen. Iran follows the Twelver doctrine that is common in several Muslim countries like Iraq and Pakistan, among others. But, Iranians constitute the majority of followers of the Twelver belief.
