How the Houthis have become the most fearsome of Iran’s allies

FOR FOUR YEARS an uncomfortable truce has prevailed in Yemen, putting its long civil war on hold. But now open conflict is breaking out once again. The Houthis, Iran-backed armed rebels, have accused Yemen’s internationally recognised government and Saudi Arabia, its most important ally, of planning a big offensive. On July 30th their leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, said his forces would “respond to their full-scale escalation with one of our own”. Throughout August they have launched drone and missile attacks against government positions, killing dozens of soldiers and civilians. The Yemeni army has struck back hard.The Houthis think they have much to gain from restarting the war. (AP)The Houthis think they have much to gain from restarting the war. Since mid-July the militia has been firi