The Houthi movement, formally called Ansar Allah, is a political and armed group originating in northern Yemen. Emerging in the 1990s from the Zaidi Shia community, it has grown into a significant force in Yemen's ongoing civil war, controlling large parts of the country including the capital, Sana'a. The group has been involved in regional conflicts, often opposing Saudi-led coalition forces, and is considered a key player in Middle Eastern geopolitical dynamics.