Houthis becoming more dangerous than Hezbollah, ex-US Yemen envoy warns

Former US Yemen envoy warns that Houthi rebels are becoming more dangerous than Hezbollah, the latter of whom is a proxy of Iran. Allison Minor spoke to The National prior to Saudi Arabia announcing a series of Houthi attacks that injured dozens and caused fires at energy sites. This was one of the largest assaults against the kingdom in recent years, underscoring the growing threat posed by the rebels as tensions escalate between Iran and the US.

Hezbollah, a pure Iranian proxy, is seen as being at its weakest following several wars with Israel, giving the Yemeni rebels a chance to inherit and expand their regional proxy role. The Houthi's close ties to Iran, their primary backer, have enabled them to expand their operations beyond Yemen's borders, threatening neighboring countries and attacking shipping lanes while consolidating control over Sanaa and northern Yemen.

Recent attacks, which began after the Israeli war on Gaza in 2023, have strained a truce agreement with Saudi Arabia, with analysts believing the Houthis aim to drag Saudi Arabia into another conflict. However, it may be too late as the Houthis appear to be crossing the red line. Saudi Arabia has vowed to retaliate against the rebels, whose attacks have not reached the scale seen before the truce, with over 400 ballistic missiles and 851 drones fired at Saudi Arabia since 2015.

The Houthi's logistical support network, involving smuggling networks, intermediaries, and organized crime groups, has been found to be vital for their military and logistical needs. Despite US military actions in Yemen, there is hesitation to support the Yemeni government in the fight against the group, with the current policy of the Trump administration refusing to address the Houthi issue.