In Yemen, the continued operations of the Iranian-backed Houthi terror group remain a significant destabilizing force for regional and international security. Despite ongoing military efforts spearheaded by the United States and allied nations, the Houthis have maintained control over territory and enhanced their capacity to disrupt global shipping—underscoring Tehran’s long-standing strategy to expand its influence and threaten international interests in the Middle East.
Over the past year, the stakes have been sharply elevated following the October 7, 2023, massacre in Israel by Hamas, which marked the deadliest antisemitic atrocity since the Holocaust. That attack, and the response it triggered, amplified global attention on the network of Iranian-backed terror organizations, including Hezbollah, the Houthis, and affiliated militias active in Iraq and Syria. The Houthis’ role as a crucial component in this so-called “Axis of Resistance” has become increasingly clear.
Understanding the Houthi Threat
Originally emerging from domestic Yemeni tensions, the Houthis have transformed into an armed proxy of the Iranian regime, receiving advanced weaponry and strategic guidance from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This relationship has enabled them to expand their offensive scope, targeting not only Yemeni rivals but also commercial ships in the Red Sea and attempting missile and drone strikes on Israeli territory. Their actions serve Tehran’s strategy of projecting force and intimidating rivals, including efforts to erode attempts at regional normalization with Israel.
The Red Sea is a critical maritime artery, with roughly 12% of global trade transiting through its waters. Houthi attacks—ranging from the use of anti-ship missiles and naval mines to piracy and drone operations—have increased insurance rates, rerouted international shipping, and exacted a heavy economic toll worldwide. According to Western defense officials and shipping associations, these activities not only threaten commercial interests but also represent a test of Western resolve to maintain global order and uphold freedom of navigation.
The Limits of Western Response
To counter the growing threat, the United States and the United Kingdom initiated Operation Prosperity Guardian, supported by partners across the West and the Arab world. While this campaign achieved some tactical successes—from intercepting Houthi strikes to conducting limited air raids on weapons depots—it has not fundamentally weakened Houthi operations. Senior military and intelligence officials attribute this failure to a combination of factors: the Houthis’ embeddedness in local communities, resilient Iranian supply lines, and the limited duration or scale of Western punitive measures.
Notably, the transition in American leadership prompted a reassessment of strategy. President Donald Trump, who favored swift and overwhelming responses, recalibrated U.S. engagement after concluding that only a broad, relentless, and multinational military effort—coupled with robust support for ground operations by Yemen’s internationally recognized government—could shift the balance decisively against Iranian-backed forces.
Toward a Lasting Solution: The Need for a 24/7 Coalition
Security analysts and senior Israeli officials agree that the current piecemeal approach cannot defeat the Houthis. A decisive outcome would demand an ongoing, integrated naval and air coalition capable of enforcing a total blockade, disrupting arms smuggling from Iran, and conducting continuous strikes against missile and drone infrastructure. This coalition would need to act in partnership with Yemen’s recognized military forces, who remain critical for asserting control on the ground and reclaiming occupied territory.
The complexity of Yemen’s civil war, marked by fractured tribal alliances and humanitarian crises, means that no outside power could realistically occupy or pacify Yemen alone. Regional support—from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and other moderate Gulf States—remains an essential pillar in mounting a comprehensive response. Parallel diplomatic efforts, economic sanctions against Iranian and Houthi financial networks, and international coordination to isolate the Houthis politically will also be required to break their resilience.
Houthi Capabilities and Regional Impact
Since the civil war’s outbreak in 2014, the Houthis have constructed a formidable arsenal comprising Iranian-designed cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and long-range drones. These weapons have allowed them to target both Yemen’s neighbors and, increasingly, Israel. Notably, missile and drone interceptions in southern Israel—including incidents where fragments landed in Eilat—demonstrate the Houthis’ expanded operational reach and integrate them into Iran’s campaign to threaten Israel from multiple axes.
Beyond direct attacks, Houthi maritime campaigns seek to disrupt global economic activity by targeting energy shipments and commercial carriers. International shipping organizations estimate that rerouting and insurance costs amount to billions each year, highlighting the global ramifications of the Houthi threat.
The Broader Axis: Houthis and Iran’s Regional Playbook
The persistence of the Houthis underscores a broader Iranian strategy employing proxy warfare to extend influence and challenge Western-aligned governments. Iranian assistance to the Houthis is well-documented, and their activities mirror those of other regional proxies—Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iraqi Shi’ite militias—who together constitute the so-called “Axis of Resistance” committed to undermining Israel and threatening pro-Western stability across the Middle East.
In the aftermath of the October 7 massacre, cross-border attacks by all elements of the Iranian axis have intensified, with coordinated rocket barrages, drone strikes, and global propaganda campaigns. The Houthis, through both rhetoric and action, have signaled full alignment with Hamas and Hezbollah and are expected to remain pivotal in Tehran’s ongoing asymmetric war against Israel and its allies.
The Way Forward: Lessons and Implications
The failure thus far to deter or defeat the Houthis stems in part from an underestimation of their integration into Iran’s regional strategy and resilience against limited military pressure. Senior defense analysts consistently warned that only sustained, relentless operations—anchored in real international consensus and robust support for Yemen’s legitimate government—can hope to achieve lasting security. Intelligence sharing, coordinated sanctions, and expanded military partnerships are now seen as prerequisites for isolating the Houthis and safeguarding international commerce.
If these steps are not taken, the Houthis are likely to entrench their position as a permanent Iranian proxy, threatening both regional stability and vital global trade routes. With Israel defending on multiple fronts from Iranian-backed terror networks, the lesson is unequivocal: only a determined, coalition-based approach targeting the full scope of Iran’s proxy strategies can secure peace and protect global interests in one of the world’s most strategic regions.
