Abdul-Malik al-Houthi vs Gulbuddin Hekmatyar

Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, along with his brother Hussein al-Houthi, founded the Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) in northern Yemen. The movement began as a religious revivalist group and later evolved into a political and military insurgency.

After the death of his brother Hussein, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi assumed leadership of the Houthi insurgency. He led a series of rebellions against the Yemeni government, demanding greater autonomy and political representation for the Zaydi Shia community.

Houthi forces under Abdul-Malik al-Houthi captured the Yemeni capital Sanaa in a swift military offensive. The takeover forced President Hadi to flee and led to the collapse of the transitional government, triggering a full-scale civil war.

Under Abdul-Malik al-Houthi's leadership, the Houthis launched ballistic missiles and drones at targets in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, including airports and oil facilities. These attacks escalated the regional conflict and drew international condemnation.

Abdul-Malik al-Houthi repeatedly rejected UN-brokered peace proposals, insisting on a military victory. His intransigence prolonged the Yemeni civil war, causing a severe humanitarian crisis with millions facing famine and disease.

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar founded the Hezb-e Islami political party, an Islamist faction that became one of the most powerful mujahideen groups during the Soviet-Afghan War. The party received significant support from Pakistan's ISI and foreign Islamist donors.

Hekmatyar served as Prime Minister of Afghanistan from 1993 to 1994 under President Burhanuddin Rabbani. His tenure was marked by intense factional fighting, including rocket attacks on Kabul that caused thousands of civilian casualties, contributing to the devastation of the city.

After the Taliban captured Kabul in 1996, Hekmatyar initially fled to Iran. He later aligned with the Taliban regime, though his influence waned. He remained in Afghanistan until the US-led invasion in 2001, after which he fled to Pakistan.

Hekmatyar signed a peace agreement with the Afghan government of President Ashraf Ghani in 2016. The deal allowed him to return to Afghanistan from exile, with his party recognized as a political entity and his fighters integrated into state security forces.