Also known as: Iran-backed Houthis
Iran-backed militant group involved in Yemen conflict and attacks on regional shipping and infrastructure; cited for obstructing UN peacekeeping efforts.
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The Namibian
Houthis took over much of Yemen in 2014
“Allied to them are the Houthis in Yemen, a tribal group who took over much of the country in 2014.”
Saudi Arabia’s dilemma as it tries to stay out of US-Iran warNew Era
Houthis have been detained UN staffers since 2021 and still hold some
“Since 2021, the Houthis have periodically detained UN staffers and still hold some of them.”
UN votes to end mission in Yemen’s HodeidaNew Era
Houthis have been at war with Yemen's government, backed by Saudi-led coalition, since 2015
“The Houthis have been at war with the government, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, since 2015, in a conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of Yemenis and triggered a major humanitarian crisis.”
UN votes to end mission in Yemen’s HodeidaThe Namibian
The Houthis boast drones and missiles able to reach deep into Saudi Arabia
“Despite years of air strikes against them, the militia now boasts drones and missiles able to reach deep into Saudi Arabia, the result of an armament campaign pursued and expanded energetically since Yemen's war began four years ago.”
Yemen Houthi Drones, Missiles Defy Years Of Saudi Air StrikesThe Namibian
The Houthis said they carried out the Aramco strikes with unmanned aerial vehicles
“The Houthis, who have this year also hit smaller oil targets and airports in southern Saudi Arabia, said they carried out the Aramco strikes with unmanned aerial vehicles.”
Yemen Houthi Drones, Missiles Defy Years Of Saudi Air StrikesSaudi Arabia, after months of attempting neutrality in the US-Iran conflict, has begun striking Iranian proxy militias in Iraq following attacks it attributes to those groups. The Kingdom now faces a choice between continued deterrent strikes or de-escalation efforts.
30 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Saudi Arabia, after months of attempting neutrality in the US-Iran conflict, has begun striking Iranian proxy militias in Iraq following attacks it attributes to those groups. The Kingdom now faces a choice between continued deterrent strikes or de-escalation efforts.
30 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was absent from his father's funeral on Sunday, with other senior regime figures and three of his brothers in attendance. Mojtaba has not appeared in public since his appointment in early March, amid speculation about his condition following alleged wounds from US-Israel air strikes that killed his father in February.
6 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the United States of plotting a ground attack despite diplomatic rhetoric, following the arrival of a US amphibious assault ship carrying 3,500 military personnel in the Middle East. The escalating regional conflict has involved aerial bombardment, Iranian retaliatory strikes on Gulf states, attacks on aluminium plants, and involvement by Houthi forces and Iraq, threatening global energy markets and shipping routes.
30 March 2026 · New Era →
Russia's invasion of Ukraine caused Namibian fuel prices to rise 83% between April 2021 and February 2022, driving inflation from 3.1% to 4.8% and forcing interest rate increases that burden households and businesses. Current unrest in Iran and tensions in the Middle East pose similar risks to Namibia's oil-dependent economy, with prolonged price spikes potentially damaging growth.
1 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Somalia's defence minister and his Saudi counterpart signed a military cooperation agreement in Riyadh on Monday, part of broader strategic competition in the Horn of Africa between Gulf monarchies Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
11 February 2026 · New Era →
Senior US and Iranian officials are meeting in Oman for direct negotiations as military tension rises following Iran's violent suppression of anti-government protests and a significant US military buildup in the Middle East. The talks, brokered by regional mediators, aim to de-escalate conflict, though the two countries remain divided on key issues including Iran's nuclear programme, ballistic missiles, and regional proxies.
6 February 2026 · The Namibian →
The UN Security Council voted on Tuesday to terminate UNMHA, a mission that enforced a ceasefire in Yemen's port city of Hodeida, with the mandate ending by 31 March after six years. The US cited Houthi obstructionism as the reason, while Denmark noted that the Houthis' arbitrary detention of UN personnel had narrowed the operating environment, though the mission had previously served as a stabilising presence in the conflict between the Iran-backed Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition-backed government.
29 January 2026 · New Era →
Somaliland's foreign ministry rejected accusations from Somalia's president that it agreed to host Israeli military facilities and resettle Palestinians in exchange for Israeli recognition. Israel became the first country to recognize Somaliland as independent last week, and the region is set to join the Abraham Accords, though Somaliland denied allegations of agreements beyond diplomatic engagement.
2 January 2026 · The Namibian →