Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia show the Yemeni rebels’ growing strength

Iran-backed Houthi rebels have demonstrated their growing military strength by repeatedly striking Saudi Arabia's main international airport and seizing territory inside Yemen near a key shipping chokepoint. These attacks have shown the Houthis' increasing capabilities despite Saudi Arabia's efforts to counter them with far superior U.S.-supplied arms.

The rebels operate in a vast and mountainous territory, allowing them to disperse fighters and military infrastructure while threatening major oil facilities and trade routes. Iran and its allies provide expertise, training, and sophisticated weapons to the Houthis, which have acquired a wide array of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, drones, anti-ship missiles and naval drones.

These weapons can reach the Gulf states and even Israel. Despite denials from Iran, U.N. experts have documented extensive military ties between the Houthis, Iran, and its other allies. The Houthis have claimed to have recruited up to 350,000 fighters by 2024, a significant increase from just 30,000 in 2015 when Saudi Arabia intervened in Yemen's civil war.

The rebels can target Saudi Arabia's oil and other infrastructure just across the border, as well as vessels off its coast. While Iran is believed to supply advanced components, the Houthis can manufacture much of their weaponry domestically at a lower cost. The Houthis are attacking Saudi Arabia due to its support of Yemen's internationally recognized government in the civil war.