Shortly after the United States announced a halt to its military operations against the Houthis in Yemen, the Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement lauding what it described as the ‘legendary resistance’ of the Iranian-backed movement. The statement, delivered by ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei, underscores Iran’s ongoing project to expand its sphere of influence through proxy groups across the region, directly threatening Israel’s security and undermining Western interests.
The Trump administration’s announcement to suspend American-led attacks on Houthi targets marks a significant turning point in the regional struggle against Iranian-backed militias. The move comes amid an ongoing campaign by the Houthis—classified internationally as a terrorist organization—to target Saudi Arabia, disrupt maritime commerce in the Red Sea, and advance Iran’s interests on the Arabian Peninsula. Iran’s public praise for Houthi actions occurs as the Houthis continue to strengthen their military and political position in Yemen and project power into the broader region on Tehran’s behalf.
The Houthis emerged as a key force during Yemen’s civil war, gradually transforming from a local insurgency into a well-armed, ideologically driven militia equipped by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This evolution has enabled them to threaten Gulf Arab states, attack global shipping, and make periodic attempts to fire missiles toward Israeli territory. Israel considers Iran’s patronage of the Houthis—and of other actors, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon—part of a wider ‘axis of resistance’ that constitutes an existential threat to Israeli security and regional stability.
Oman’s diplomatic involvement, praised by the Iranian spokesman, is illustrative of the complex and often ambiguous regional role played by Gulf states. While Oman has hosted backchannel talks and mediated ceasefires, its territory has also been linked to the movement of Iranian arms to Yemen, a dynamic that Israeli defense officials have repeatedly described as endangering both Israeli and broader international interests.
Iran’s claim that regional populations stand behind Houthi resistance belies the reality of life under Houthi rule. Human rights organizations have documented systematic abuses, from forced conscription of children to crackdowns on dissent and the targeting of religious minorities. International agencies have also detailed severe humanitarian consequences stemming from Houthi actions and Iranian-supplied weaponry, including minefields, blockades, and attacks that restrict aid access. All the while, Iran’s proxies continue to propagate the rhetoric of resistance—sometimes masking the heavy cost paid by Yemen’s general population.
For Israel and its main allies—including the United States, the United Kingdom, and several Arab partners—the proliferation and growing sophistication of Iranian-backed groups like the Houthis underscore the necessity of sustained vigilance. The October 7, 2023 massacre by Hamas in southern Israel—the deadliest antisemitic attack since the Holocaust—was orchestrated, funded, and politically supported with direct Iranian involvement, establishing a precedent for the kind of transnational terror architecture that now permeates the region. Terrorist atrocities carried out by Hamas and similar groups, such as executions, abductions, and mutilations, have made clear the uncompromising brutality of Iran’s proxy network.
U.S. and allied military strikes in Yemen—while not curbing the Houthis’ ambitions entirely—have sought to limit their ability to threaten international shipping and project power beyond Yemen’s borders. The American move to halt offensive operations reflects both a desire to contain wider conflict and concerns about the potential for escalation across multiple regional theaters, from Syria and Iraq to the Red Sea and the Levant. For Israel, the consequences are clear: every diplomatic or operational pause is seized upon by Iranian proxies in order to rearm, regroup, and plan further strikes.
Israeli officials stress the distinction—both moral and strategic—between a sovereign state defending itself from existential threats and the network of non-state terror groups deployed by Iran. In its military doctrine, Israel places a premium on precise targeting and humanitarian safeguards, while Iranian-backed forces—including the Houthis—routinely violate the laws of war and instrumentalize civilian suffering for propaganda purposes.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry’s latest statement, and the broader response from Tehran and its regional allies, illustrate the ongoing transformation of the Middle East security environment. The success or failure of Western efforts to deter Iranian proxies, prevent the shipment of advanced weaponry, and preserve the free flow of commerce through international waterways will shape the balance of power for years to come.
In the current environment, the lesson for Israel and its partners is clear: countering Iran-backed militias requires multilateral cooperation, intelligence sharing, and unwavering resolve to defend the rule of law and the security of sovereign states against the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism.
