How Iran made the Houthis into such a problem for the U.S. and its allies

Key Points:

• Yemen's Houthi rebels have evolved over the past decade into Iran's most powerful proxy in the Middle East, playing a central role in regional conflicts and opposing the U.S. and its allies.
• Backed financially and militarily by Iran, the Houthis have launched attacks on Israel and Saudi Arabia, including targeting Saudi airports and oil infrastructure, significantly impacting global energy markets.
• The group has advanced its military capabilities since October 2023, adopting complex tactics involving drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, with Iran aiding in both weapon supply and training.
• The Houthis aim to control all of Yemen and seek recognition and financial support from Saudi Arabia, leveraging Yemen’s economic hardships and ideological backing to sustain their asymmetric warfare.
• Yemen’s civil war, ongoing since 2015, has caused massive humanitarian suffering with hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced, while the Houthis maintain strong territorial control despite internal divisions among opposing factions.