The Houthis' war economy is part of Yemen's problems

The G7 foreign ministers met at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, urging Iran to cease arming and financing Yemen's Houthi rebels. The appeal was made after the G7 nations expressed concern that Iran's continued support for the militant group threatens international trade and global stability. Recent Houthi attacks, including a strike on Saudi Arabia's international airport and Aramco facilities, crossed a line that should be universally condemned.

These airports and energy infrastructure are civilian targets, not military objectives, and their protection is crucial for the Gulf's prosperity and global energy security.

International condemnation, while forceful, may not be enough to deter the Houthi militia. The group has developed a sophisticated war economy, taxing goods passing through their territory, exploiting port revenues, engaging in fuel and commodity smuggling, and moving money internationally. Some estimates suggest their maritime revenues alone amount to hundreds of millions of dollars each month.

The recent Houthi capture of Mokha and strategic islands in the Red Sea has expanded their control over the Bab Al Mandeb strait, allowing them to extract additional revenue from this critical international maritime chokepoint.

The international community has spent too much time anticipating the Houthis' next strike and not enough time examining how they finance these attacks. To restore calm in Yemen, the international community must address the financial infrastructure sustaining the Houthis with the same intensity applied to their military capabilities.

Sanctions enforcement, port oversight, and disruption of smuggling networks should no longer be considered secondary measures. If the Houthis continue to attack civilian targets in Yemen and the wider Gulf, they must face accountability. Targeting their financial resources must be an integral part of a comprehensive effort to compel the Houthis to change their behavior.