In a dramatic turn of events, U.S. Navy personnel flying in helicopters sank three boats belonging to the Iranian-backed Houthi militia in the Red Sea on Dec. 31 and killed their crews, a sign of how important the Biden Administration takes the threat to global maritime shipping.
How did things come to this? Research by the Middle East Forum’s staff, fellows, and guest contributors explains how an obscure Shi’a tribal militia in Yemen seized control of the country and developed the capacity to carry out long-range drone and missile strikes.
The research also shows errors made along the way. As the influx of arms, training, and financing from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fueled Houthi expansion, Washington’s fear of derailing its pursuit of a nuclear deal with Tehran led it to withhold full-throttled support for Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen, backpedal on designation of Ansar Allah as a terrorist organization, and long refuse to respond to Houthi provocations.
For more analysis of the Houthi threat, see the selections at right. To keep abreast of this and other issues, sign up to the Middle East Forum mailing list.
Is It Time to Sink the Iranian Navy?
by Michael Rubin (Dec 30, 2023)
How the Houthi Attacks Could Net Iran Billions of Dollars
by Michael Rubin (Dec 20, 2023)
The U.S. Must Confront the Houthis Once and for All
by Gregg Roman (Dec 20, 2023)
Daniel Pipes Cautiously Optimistic that Houthis Will Stand Down
(Dec 19, 2023)
Iranian-Backed Houthis Intensify Provocations in the Red Sea
by Jonathan Spyer (Dec 8, 2023)
Why Are the Houthis Attacking Israel?
by Jonathan Spyer (Nov 11, 2023)
How Iran Gains from the Ceasefire in Yemen
by Clifford Smith (Apr 11, 2022)
Yemen’s Houthis Seek World Stage for Their Threats
by Seth J. Frantzman (Mar 10, 2021)
Why Yemen Matters
by Daniel Pipes (Mar 28, 2015)
Iran-Backed Shia Rebels Push Forward in Yemen
by Jonathan Spyer (Nov 5, 2014)
The Coming Collapse of Yemen
by Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (Dec 27, 2011)
