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Houthis are Zaidi Shias -- essentially they are indigenous and have been the majority population in the north since the 9th century.

Their beliefs are that they don't think Imams are infallible (so against Irani 12er sHia beliefs) nor that the Quran is uncreated (so against Sunni beliefs).

They are, compared to Wahabbis, very moderate and didn't attack the Yemeni Jews who lived alongside them for centuries (I know, the bar is low...)

They were the main component behind the north Yemen state (which survived until the 90s and when the Soviet sponsors of South Yemen collapsed, South Yemen united with North Yemen

The dictator was ousted as part ofthe "Arab Spring" and since then Yemen has been in chaos

Truly speaking Yemen is a group of different states quite different in language and also religion. North Yemen (Sanaa ) should be allowed to reform the North Yemen Zaidi state, but the problem is that Saudia doesn't want another Shia state on their borders, even if these Shia don't see eye to eye with the 12er Shias in Iran

In fact, if the Sauds hadn't stuck their oar in, the ZAidis would be happy enough to not have anything to do with Iran, but its too late for late, the Saudis have been killing women and children and bombing hospitals in Yemen -- they are despised.