SAUDI HOUTHI CONFLICT: IMPACT ON INDIA

 Houthis are Ansar Allah / Anasurllah or revivalist Shia Islamist paramilitary and political organization that originated from Yemen in the 1990s. It's leadership is predominantly from the Houthi family. Houthis are supported by Iran, and now they are largely considered as a part of the Iranian led axis of resistance. Their ideology combines Khomenism,anti imperialism, anti Zionism withZaydi Shia RevivalismðddddddThis group has been a major player in Yemen's civil war and they were condemned against wide spread  human rights violations and abuses ranging from  targeting civilians to using child soldiers  by Houthis. This has prompted many  countries to designate Houthis as a terrorist organization. 

Under the leadership Hussain Al Houthi  Houthis emerged as an opposition movement against Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh who were accused of corruption but backed by both Saudi Arabia and USA.In  2003 backed by  the Lebanese  Shia political and military organization Hezbollah along with the Houthis adopted their official approach against US, Israel and the Jewish people. Houthis played their role in the Yemeni Revolution of 2011 by organizing street protests and collaborating with other Yemeni opposition groups. By late 2014 Houthis improved their relationship with Saleh and consequently they took control of Yemen's capital city. This provoked Saudi Arabia and it  led to military intervention that restored globally recognized government.But in  ongoing civil war Houthis resorted to missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia.Due to the Gaza war, the Houthis began to fire missiles against Israel and to attack ships off Yemen's coast in the Red Sea which is supposed to be in solidarity with Palestinians cause.  According to Esquire Magazine September 2015 from once in the outliers Houthis emerged as the most stable and organized social and political movements in Yemen.

Saudi Houthi Conflict 

It has been observed that the conflict between Saudi Arabia  and the Houthi movement has transformed from a localized Yemen civil war into a multidimensional regional global problem.The Saudi- Houthi Conflict dates back to the Houthi's  take over of Sanana Yemen's Capital.Later Saudi Arabia began bombing Yemen to to drive the Houthis out.On the contrary years of Saudi bombing of  a very less developed Arab country proved counter productive,When   United Nations brokered nation wide ceasefire between Houthis and the Saudi Arabia backed Yemeni Government came into force on October2,2022 .However direct hostilities came into forefront in mid 2026.The conflict shifted towards an assymetric  warfare where the Houthis conducted sustained attack and strains on Saudi Arabia. Infact the current war is  a central front in the broader Iran - Saudi rivalry and the ongoing Iran war since February 2027.Countries like USA,UK and France have been providing defensive military support to protect critical strategic infrastructure and diplomatic personnel of Saudi Arabia. On the contrary supported by Iran Houthis coordinate regional rivals to launch challenges against Saudi security. Infact massive Saudi airstrikes against Houthis neither defeated them nor restored Saudi deterrence. Saudi remains exposed to Houthis drone and missile attacks. 

IMPLICATIONS FOR INDIA 

According to Ministry of External Affairs data Indian diaspora constitute 2.46 million to 2.5 million in Saudi Arabia accounting for  the largest expatriate community in the Kingdom. Kerala account for approximately 40% followed by Telengana,Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and UP.Being the largest community in Saudi Arabia, the killing of an Indian national recently in a Houthi attack in Saudi's Damam Airport is a grim reminder of the vulnerabilities facing Indian nationals working in strategic and vulnerable locations.For decades non resident Indians particularly Keralites were boasting about their posh jobs in various Saudi firms particularly Aramco.Unless  the entire Middle East conflict including  homeland to Palestinians are resolved Houthis problems will remain. Despite huge stock of weapons oil wealth and 8 fold increase in Percapita income compared to Yemen the winning of conflict by Saudi Arabia is difficult. Because Houthi people are ready to fight openly wheras Saudi is fighting only from the air.They should have strong resistance from land and sea, in the absence of  which viable diplomatic settlement(including compensation) is the only way out.

Being the largest expatriate community employed in oil fields , airports hospitals, educational institutions supermarkets etc.we are risking the possibility of getting into  the cross fire, stranded flights etc. Our diplomatic missions Government etc must be in constant contact and cooperation with Saudi authorities to meet any eventuality.