SANAA, Yemen—The Iranian-backed Houthis, who have dominated northern Yemen since their 2014 coup, are facing mounting pressure on multiple fronts following a surge of U.S.-led airstrikes targeting their military infrastructure. In response, the group has launched sweeping internal purges, detaining over a hundred individuals accused of collaborating with ‘the enemy’—an intensification of repression underscoring growing anxiety about the group’s hold on power.
According to reports from security officials and regional analysts, the crackdown began after several waves of precision airstrikes attributed to the United States and its allies. These strikes, which target Houthi drone and missile capabilities as well as critical command centers, aim to neutralize the group’s threat to vital Red Sea shipping lanes. The Houthis, serving as a linchpin in Iran’s regional network of proxies, have repeatedly launched attacks against international shipping, threatening global trade and drawing international condemnation.
Regional and international officials emphasize that the air campaign is part of a broader self-defense strategy to protect maritime security and limit the reach of Iranian-backed terror organizations. The operations come amid heightened vigilance following the October 7th massacre by Hamas in Israel—the deadliest antisemitic terror attack since the Holocaust—which underscored the regional threat posed by the so-called ‘axis of resistance,’ including Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and the Houthis.
Human rights observers and Yemeni civil society organizations report a climate of fear spreading through Houthi-held areas. Detainees, often arrested on vague or fabricated charges of espionage, face prolonged detention, torture, and limited access to legal counsel. The crackdown has disrupted families and stifled any open dissent, while local and international journalists have found access to affected regions almost impossible. The Houthis, wary of both domestic unrest and foreign infiltration, have further tightened controls on media and humanitarian organizations.
Analysts argue that the limits of air power have been exposed by years of unsuccessful attempts—primarily by the Saudi-led coalition—to dislodge the Houthis without significant ground operations or a credible local alternative. The group’s deep entrenchment in Yemeni society, fueled by tribal allegiances and consistent Iranian support, has enabled it to weather external military pressure. Nevertheless, the prolonged conflict, economic hardship, and shifting regional alliances are now combining to erode the Houthis’ domestic legitimacy.
There are growing indications of discontent within Houthi-controlled areas. Economic decline, reported shortages of basic goods, and resentment toward Iranian interference have increased the risk of internal divisions. Regional sources suggest that, in addition to external military pressure, new dynamics—including local defections, tribal opposition, and possible covert operations—are straining the group from within. The mass arrests, while a sign of strength on the surface, may also betray deepening insecurity among Houthi leaders.
International security experts note that, while the Houthis retain a substantial arsenal supplied in part by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), repeated airstrikes have degraded their high-value assets. U.S. and coalition naval deployments in the Red Sea have thwarted several attempted attacks, and stepped-up enforcement of arms embargoes has limited, though not stopped, fresh shipments of advanced weaponry. Despite these setbacks, the Houthis’ strategic value for Iran—as a tool to strike Israel, threaten Gulf States, and disrupt global trade—ensures continued external support.
Meanwhile, the conflict in Yemen remains a humanitarian catastrophe, further complicated by the Houthis’ repression and foreign involvement. Millions of Yemenis are at risk of famine, and the displacement crisis continues. While the international community pursues various political and humanitarian initiatives, prospects for a durable settlement remain slim unless the Houthis’ capacity for warfare is diminished and a credible alternative emerges for governance in northern Yemen.
In the broader context, the struggle in Yemen is part of the larger war imposed by Iran and its proxies on Israel and the West. The Houthis’ recent moves signal growing anxiety in their leadership, as both foreign firepower and pressure from within Yemen threaten their control. For Israel and its allies, containing the Houthi threat is seen as a matter of national and regional security, directly linked to the wider campaign against Iranian-sponsored terror organizations.
As the situation develops, there is cautious optimism among some regional observers that sustained military, political, and economic pressure—supported by intelligence cooperation and renewed regional alliances—could begin to tip the balance against the Houthis. However, previous experience warns that air power and economic sanctions alone are insufficient. Internal resistance, combined with coordinated international action, may ultimately prove pivotal in challenging the Houthis’ position and opening a path toward greater stability in Yemen and the region.
