● Previous hostile relationship with former President Saleh turned into alliance (2012-2015)
○ According to the Wall Street Journal: “Mr. Saleh put aside his rivalry with the Houthis after an explosion ripped through his palace mosque in 2011 as he prayed. The assassination attempt left Mr. Saleh with burns over 40% of his body, shrapnel wounds and a fractured skull. People familiar with his thinking said Mr. Saleh blamed the Saudis directly for the attack and at other times accused Maj. Gen. Ali Mohsin al-Ahmar, a Yemeni military commander, of acting on their behalf. ‘That’s when he decided to ally with the Houthis, to regain control of his status in Yemen,’ an Arab diplomat said.”