Houthi fighters, rallying in Sanaa, Yemen, march in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in 2024. In his announcement unveiling U.S. attacks on Iran, President Trump assailed the Islamic Republic’s “proxies” in the region. Echoing Iranian positions, the groups embrace struggle against what they label U.S.-Israeli hegemony and the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands. Despite a shared enmity for the United States and Israel, the Shiite and Sunni militias are bitter sectarian foes. Al Qaeda and Islamic State generally view Shiites as infidels and consider Iran a mortal enemy.

Source: Los Angeles Times March 02, 2026 11:52 UTC