Also known as: Iran-backed Houthis
Houthis — Yemen-based militant group armed by Iran, involved in attacks on Saudi Arabia and regional shipping disruptions including Red Sea territory control.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Houthis
Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
Houthis launched wave of attacks in Saudi Arabia on oil facilities
“A day earlier, the Iran-linked Houthis in Yemen launched a wave of attacks in Saudi Arabia, sparking fires at oil facilities.”
Iran war won’t end until after crucial November elections, says TrumpThe 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 StrikesG7 foreign ministers have jointly called for Iran to end its support for the Houthis in Yemen, condemning Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and warning that regional fighting threatens energy security. The statement was issued ahead of the UN General Assembly, as thousands of refugees have fled Yemen following Houthi seizure of Red Sea territory including the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
22 September 2026 · The Namibian →
G7 foreign ministers have jointly called for Iran to end its support for the Houthis in Yemen, condemning Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and warning that regional fighting threatens energy security. The statement was issued ahead of the UN General Assembly, as thousands of refugees have fled Yemen following Houthi seizure of Red Sea territory including the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
22 September 2026 · The Namibian →
President Trump's administration has approved the sale of nearly 50 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia in a policy shift, but the $24 billion sale has raised concerns from some members of Congress who worry the advanced stealth technology could be shared with China.
18 September 2026 · The Namibian →
US President Donald Trump said he does not think the Iran war will end until after November's midterm elections, adding that oil prices will not come down until then. Trump told reporters that "right after the election, oil prices are going to be tumbling downward," and claimed Iran is "desperate to try and affect the election."
10 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Iran says it has reached an agreement with Oman on a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, though details remain undisclosed. The Iranian foreign ministry cautioned that a deal would not guarantee safe passage, citing the US blockade of Iranian ports as a security threat.
6 August 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 →