What happened
The Houthi movement in Yemen, also known as Ansar Allah, has been increasingly relied upon by Iran as a primary instrument of its revolutionary cause. The group has received support from Iran since its inception and has been able to disrupt vital global trade choke points like the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
In recent years, the Houthis have launched several attacks on Saudi infrastructure, including a devastating missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which killed 14 people and injured over 300 others. The group has also been able to entice a US government employee to turn coat, with Ashton Hamad Ellaboudy, a Department of Energy employee, facing charges for attempting to provide material support to the group.
The Houthis have also been able to temporarily seize control of strategic locations in Yemen, including the port city of Mocha and the Hanish Islands, allowing them to disrupt commercial traffic and threaten global oil prices. Despite being forced back by Saudi-backed Yemeni forces, the group's reliance on Iranian support means they will soon feel the pinch as Tehran's coffers run dry.
The US and its allies can no longer afford to underestimate the Houthis, who have become a vital part of Iran's aggression. The group's rise has been unmistakable, and they have long benefited from being underestimated. The US and its allies should begin targeting Houthi support networks abroad and stateside, and Riyadh should look to Jerusalem for help in countering Iran's latest terror threat.
