What do Yemen's Houthi rebels really want?
When an enemy isn't just one thing, motivated by one aim, it's hard to understand that group's movements.
In the case of the Iran-linked Houthi rebels, this seemingly mysterious and hard-to-define group has posed increasing national security threats to trade routes against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war.
Who are the Houthi rebels and what do they want? The group is both a Mideast political movement and an Islamic religious presence. At the same time, the group is an Iran-backed military faction. Experts say they want to counter Western influence in nearby governments, strengthen their ideal of Islam and fight for key geographic spots. They also aim to pressure Israel to stop the assault on Gaza that began after the October 7 Hamas attack. And as the U.S. looks to counter Houthi-led aggression, experts say Washington will need to design solutions that account for the diffuse aims of the group.