They include Salafi students of Muqbil bin Hadi al-Wadi'i's Dar al-hadith religious institute in Dammaj, Saada that were expelled by the Houthis in early 2014.

After Yemen unified, these brigades saw intensive action in the 1994 civil war and continued to be an effective unit in the Yemeni military.

[6][7] They have shown their military power during the Al Hudaydah governorate offensive, where they have killed hundreds of Houthi militants.

After taking control of the "Mocha Interception" in the city the militia alongside allied forces including other factions in the Joint Forces, the Tihamah Resistance and Yemeni National Resistance they began to advance towards the "Bara Junction" to cut the Houthis' supply lines.

[10][11] In December 2021, the Giants announced it had sent troops to Shabwa province "to liberate areas that fell into Houthi hands",[12] driving out the rebels in just two weeks.