In September 2014, Houthi forces captured Sanaa and in January 2015 they attempted to unilaterally replace the legitimate government of Yemen with an illegitimate governing authority that the Houthis dominated.
Al-Houthi a pris la tête du mouvement houthiste du Yémen en 2004, après la mort de son frère, Hussein Badredden al-Houthi.