Iran’s Role in Empowering the Houthis as a Regional Threat to U.S. Allies
Examining how Iran has transformed the Houthis into a major challenge for the U.S. and its allies through military support and strategic attacks.
POLICY WIRE — Sanaa, Yemen — Over the past decade, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have evolved from an obscure group in the northwest of the country into a powerful regional force aligned with Iran and a key adversary of the United States and its allies.
While other Iranian proxy groups have weakened in recent years, the Houthis have taken center stage in the Middle East, showcasing how a smaller, guerrilla-style force can inflict significant damage through difficult-to-counter aerial attacks.
The group launched initial strikes on Israel shortly after the U.S. joined Israeli operations against Iran on February 28, fueling ongoing tensions in the region. Saudi Arabia, one of the world’s wealthiest nations and a critical U.S. ally, is now facing severe consequences, with at least 20 fatalities at its airports in the last week.
Alongside other allied groups, the Houthis have also targeted Saudi oil infrastructure, disrupting global energy markets by threatening the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital maritime chokepoint for oil and gas shipments.
Saudi officials have requested U.S. military assistance against the Houthis, and while President Trump initially rejected the call, he has since indicated he is considering it.
U.S. and Israeli officials, along with regional analysts, have long noted that the Houthis receive financial and military backing from Iran. Once a minor player within Iran’s Axis of Resistance, which includes Hamas and Hezbollah, the group has grown significantly in power and influence.
Following the 2023 attack on Israel, the Houthis gained momentum, adopting new tactics such as layered drone, cruise missile, and ballistic missile strikes to overwhelm Israeli defenses. They have since applied similar strategies against Saudi Arabia.
Analysts suggest that the Houthis leverage Yemen’s status as one of the poorest countries in the world as a strategic advantage, relying on a strong ideological base willing to endure economic hardship in exchange for inflicting damage on Saudi Arabia and the global economy.
Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesman, claims the group’s attacks on Saudi Arabia are a response to brutal Saudi aggression. However, some analysts argue that the true objective is power and recognition, with the Houthis seeking control over all of Yemen and demanding both legitimacy and financial support from the Saudis.
The Houthi movement originated from the Zaydi Shiite Muslim sect, which has historical roots in northern Yemen. Despite being a minority in a predominantly Sunni country, the group has grown significantly in influence, adopting a militant slogan: “Allah is the Greatest; Death to America; Death to Israel; A Curse upon the Jews; Victory to Islam.”
Analysts estimate the armed Houthi force consists of hundreds of thousands of combat-ready fighters, with the group claiming to have trained over a million militants. Their rise to power began in 2012, capitalizing on unrest following the Arab Spring and the ouster of longtime President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
In 2014, the Houthis seized Sanaa, triggering a civil war with the Western- and Saudi-backed government. The government relocated to Aden, where it remains based, and retains control over parts of eastern Yemen.
The Houthis quickly gained control of key military and civilian institutions, including missile brigades and tax collection systems. They survived a prolonged conflict with the Saudi-led coalition from 2015 to 2022, during which Iranian and Hezbollah advisors helped train their forces and enhance their weapons production capabilities.
Recent reports indicate that the Houthis may be using AI software to develop advanced weaponry, including guided rockets and multi-stage ballistic missiles. While they can manufacture some arms locally, experts say they still rely heavily on Iran for critical technologies and advanced capabilities.
Geographically isolated from outside ground forces, the Houthis face divided opposition forces that are largely aligned with the Saudi-backed government but operate under separate command structures. Since the war began in 2015, the United Nations estimates that more than 377,000 people have died, with many deaths resulting from indirect causes like starvation and disease.
Over 201,210 people have fled their homes, according to the International Organization for Migration, with thousands escaping to Djibouti by sea. The World Health Organization reported 959 deaths and 4,207 injuries from fighting in 10 provinces between September and October, while the Houthi-run Ministry of Health recorded 107 deaths and 278 injuries during the same period.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
