How ragtag militia in sandals came to take on global powers

Abdul Malik al-Houthi, enigmatic leader of Yemen's Houthi fighters, created the defiant force challenging world powers from a ragtag militia in sandals. Al-Houthi established a reputation as a fierce battlefield commander before emerging as head of the Houthi movement, mountain fighters who have been battling a Saudi-led military coalition since 2015 in a conflict that has killed tens of thousands, devastated Yemen's economy and left millions hungry.