Houthi Rebels in Yemen Grow Stronger Despite Years of War
The Houthi rebels in Yemen have grown stronger despite years of war and airstrikes from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Britain, and Israel. The Iran-backed Houthis operate in a large and mountainous territory where they can disperse fighters and military infrastructure while threatening major oil infrastructure and key trade routes.
According to Michael Knights, who has written extensively about the Houthis, they are 'the most committed, the most ideologically pure and the most aggressive' of Iran's regional allies. They have been developed by the Iranians in a fast-track way, with things that took the Lebanese Hezbollah 20 years to develop being achieved in five.
The Houthis have a wide array of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones, many resembling Iranian models, which can reach all the Gulf states as well as Israel. They have also used sophisticated anti-ship missiles and naval drones to strike vessels in the Red Sea, threatening a critical trade route.
Iran denies arming the Houthis, but smuggled Iranian weapons and parts have been seized from numerous shipments bound for Yemen. A report by U.N. experts in 2024 documented extensive military ties between the Houthis, Iran, and its other allies.