The Arab Center Washington DC –  On September 21, 2014, Yemen’s capital Sanaa awoke to an unexpected turn of events that would reshape the country’s destiny. The Houthi armed group, officially known as Ansar Allah, had seized the city after a prepared march. The takeover had unfolded against the backdrop of popular grievances over the failure of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi’s transitional government to address economic hardship, corruption, and a pervasive sense of marginalization. Seeking to exploit this widespread discontent, the Houthis had forged a strategic alliance with former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, a move that merged their interests with his deep-rooted political influence. Government buildings fell swiftly after the Houthis entered Sanaa as they occupied the parliament, ministries, and military installations, one after another. Media outlets broadcast new messages under Houthi control, signaling a dramatic shift in power.