10 years into Houthi rule, some Yemenis count the cost

Houthi rule in Yemen's Sanaa brings economic hardship and restricted freedoms, leaving residents longing for the past.

With a floundering economy and growing restrictions on personal freedoms, 10 years of Houthi rule has left its mark on Yemen's ancient capital, Sanaa, where some quietly long for how things once were.

The Houthis, a radical political-military group from Yemen's northern mountains, have imposed strict rule over the large swathe of Yemen under their control, covering two-thirds of the population.

Since the Iran-backed rebels took power in Sanaa in 2014, after long-running protests against the government, the country has gone "back 50 years", sighed Yahya, 39, who like many prefers not to share his full name for fear of reprisals.

"Before, we thought about how to buy a car or a house. Now we think about how to feed ourselves," added Abu Jawad, 45.

Already the poorest country in the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen has been devastated by war since 2015, when a Saudi-led coalition launched a failed campaign to dislodge the Houthis.

Hundreds of thousands of people have died through fighting or indirect causes like hunger and disease, with much of the infrastructure in ruins.

Yemen, mired in one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, remains divided between the Houthis and the government, now based in the port city of Aden.