The Radical group from Yemen is not simply Iran’s proxy, like others in the region. It’s a new defiant challenge that has created new ties with Russia and China, bypassing Tehran.

As a clear sign of their ideological inclinations, Houthi leaders appointed Beraas Shams al-Din Muhammad Sharaf al-Din as a new mufti in April 2017 to serve as the leading religious authority in Sana’a. Sharaf al-Din was educated in Iran and is believed to be one of the most important links between Iran and the Houthi movement. And here is the most important element in the Houthi hierarchy: Shams al-Din is not the highest religious authority in the Houthi system.

Abdul-Malik al-Houthi’s ideological roots stem from a blend of Jaroudi Zaydism, the legacy of the Believing Youth (Shabab al-Mumin) movement, founded by his brother Hussein Badr al-Din, and the revolutionary model of Iran’s Wilayat al-Faqih.

Based on his speeches, ideological texts, and regional analyses, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the present leader of the movement, views himself as a divinely appointed spiritual and military guide tasked with leading a holy war.

China or Russia might be betting on the wrong horse in Ukraine and Europe. They overlook the complexity and depth of the US relationship with its allies. The new Hannibal bet.

October 14 could be a pivotal moment for Europe and America. SpaceX abruptly imposed a speed cap on Ukraine’s Starshield service without warning Kyiv, disrupting many battlefield operations, including mid-range drone strikes and air defense. The US platform Starshield had been vital in coordinating and spotting Russian targets for Ukrainian attacks.

Only a few days later, after a wave of protests in America and Europe, the service was basically restored, and in Washington, officials blamed each other for ordering the disruption. The episode could be a turning point in transatlantic relations. It shows a large majority in both America and Europe supports Ukraine, while some opposition parties in Europe and parts of President Donald Trump’s administration are lukewarm about Kyiv.

Brynn Tannehill argues that:

“The Starshield decision was likely meant to pressure Ukraine into complying with US.