The Houthi movement, known as Ansar Allah, has become a significant factor in Yemeni politics and regional conflicts. The movement’s recent escalation in the Red Sea and the transnational threats it poses are unsurprising given its history of irregular warfare (IW). Since 2023, the Houthis have ramped up attacks on commercial and naval vessels, including US warships, and have targeted ships with suspected Israeli ties, jeopardizing key maritime routes through the Bab al-Mandab Strait. In September 2024, they struck central Israel for the first time. This escalation aligns with Iran’s broader strategy of using the Houthis and other proxies to project power, challenge Western and Israeli interests, and gain leverage over key maritime chokepoints like the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, expanding its regional influence beyond Yemen.

What underscores the Houthi movement’s rise and continuing influence is its reliance on violence as a primary means to advance its objectives. The Houthis’ violent IW strategy encompasses armed uprisings, territorial control, and cross-border attacks. However, this strategy would not be as effective without support from Iran and its regional proxies. It is evident that the Houthis perceive the Yemeni people as expendable and are willing to drag Yemen into war to achieve ultimate control and fulfill the movement’s regional ambitions.

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