Abdulmalik al-Houthi, el líder rebelde yemení que inquieta a los mercados petroleros

Abdulmalik al-Houthi, the enigmatic Yemeni rebel leader causing concern among oil markets, has been a thorn in Riyadh's side for years, with his whereabouts unknown to most. Speculation suggests he operates from a complex network of tunnels and caves in the mountainous Saada province, northern Yemen. In recent weeks, al-Houthi has launched severe strikes against Saudi Arabia, opening a new front in the Middle East conflict, disrupting oil markets, and fueling Iran's strategy to pressure global energy prices.

For months, the Houthi movement, led by al-Houthi, largely avoided the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, Iran's main ally among Yemen's rebels. However, in July, al-Houthi decided to take risks by reviving a decade-long war against Saudi Arabia and breaking the 2022 truce, during which his Islamic forces declared a blockade of the kingdom's ports and attacked Saudi oil tankers.

The following week, his attacks intensified with near-daily drone and missile waves against Saudi facilities, while launching a lightning offensive towards the south along Yemen's Red Sea coast, expanding his control over the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a vital maritime trade route.

This offensive has contributed to soaring oil prices to their highest level since mid-May and reinforced al-Houthi's position as one of the most powerful leaders of Iran's so-called resistance axis. The Houthi movement, whose fervent supporters follow a radical interpretation of the Zaidi branch of Shia Islam since its founding in the 1990s by al-Houthi's brother Hussein, spread an anti-American, anti-Israel, and anti-Palestinian doctrine since its inception.

Since assuming leadership after his brother's death in combat in 2004, al-Houthi transformed the militants into a formidable force, battle-hardened and ideologically motivated. Under his leadership, the Houthi rebels waged numerous wars against the late Yemeni dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh and border skirmishes with Saudi forces, while organizing social projects to win followers.

However, in 2011, an opportunity arose for the Houthi movement to step onto the national stage when Yemenis took to the streets to protest against Saleh's government amid the wider Arab Spring uprisings. The Houthi movement, long accusing Saleh of corruption, allied with protesters and the opposition, forcing Saleh's resignation.

Initially welcomed by many Yemenis as defenders of the underprivileged, the rebels' offensive soon escalated: they captured the capital Sana'a in late 2014, ousted the government, and advanced towards Aden. Concerned by the collapse of the regime that had supported them and fearing their ties to Iran, Saudi Arabia intervened, leading a coalition of Arab states to push back the rebels and restore the government.

Since then, the kingdom has been trapped in an enormously costly war, while the Houthi rebels have resisted years of coalition airstrikes, U.S., and Israeli air strikes. The Houthi regime has also adopted a more bellicose stance since the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza, becoming increasingly repressive and aggressive towards Israel and the U.S., launching missiles and drones against Israel and starting to attack ships in the Red Sea, claiming solidarity with Palestinians.

The U.S. and Israel have responded with airstrikes on Yemen, but the Houthi rebels have resisted. U.S. President Donald Trump even praised the group, calling them an "organization of terrorists" for their bravery and ability to withstand punishment after halting a bombing campaign the previous year.