How the Houthis went from ragtag rebels of Yemen to global threat

The Gaza war has allowed the Iran-backed Yemeni militants to broaden alliances with Iraqi militias, African jihadists and Russia

- Benoit Faucon

Iran's "axis of resistance" has suffered a series of blows delivered by Israel over the past month, including operations targeting the leadership of Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah, and a strike last week on Iran's missile-making facilities used, in part, to supply the groups.

That hasn't stopped Yemen's Houthis from targeting more ships this week in the Red Sea with drones and missiles, the latest demonstration of how an escalating regional war appears to be boosting a once minor Iran-backed player in the region.

The Houthis have so far avoided the type of Israeli strikes that killed Hassan Nasrallah, the charismatic Hezbollah leader who turned the Lebanon-based militant group into the world's most powerful nonstate armed force.

A few weeks after his death, Israel killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who orchestrated the Gaza-based militant group's Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

By contrast, the Houthis have benefited by inserting themselves into the Gaza conflict, according to Western officials and analysts. Since the war started last year, the U.S.-designated terrorist group has launched drones and missiles at more than 80 commercial ships, snarling trade and increasing shipping costs.

The Houthis are also rapidly expanding abroad, lending their considerable manpower to conflicts elsewhere and forging international links with a range of actors in the Middle East, Africa and as far afield as Russia, according to Western officials.

"One of the unfortunate offshoots of the Gaza conflict is...that the Houthis have doubled down on their contacts with other malign actors in the region and beyond," said Timothy Lenderking, the U.S. special envoy for Yemen.

Lenderking, in an interview, called the trend "very alarming" and said the U.S. is talking with regional partners about how to respond.

A Houthi spokesman declined to comment.