Houthi Strikes on Saudi Arabia Show the Yemeni Rebels’ Growing Strength

The recent Houthi strikes against Saudi Arabia have highlighted the rebels' increasing military prowess, despite years of air raids by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Britain, and Israel. The rebels, backed by Iran, have demonstrated their capabilities by repeatedly attacking Saudi Arabia's main international airport and seizing territory near a major shipping chokepoint.

Despite the Saudi kingdom's superior weaponry and military support from the U.S., the Houthis have proven resilient, with Iran reportedly encouraging their escalation and providing training and sophisticated weapons. The Houthis operate in a vast, mountainous territory, enabling them to disperse fighters and infrastructure while threatening key oil facilities and trade routes.

They have acquired a wide array of missiles, drones, and anti-ship weaponry, some of which can reach all the Gulf states and Israel. Iran denies supplying the Houthis, but U.N. experts have found extensive military ties between the two groups. The Houthis have amassed up to 350,000 fighters by 2024, compared to just 30,000 in 2015, when Saudi Arabia intervened in Yemen's civil war.

The rebels can target Saudi Arabia's oil and infrastructure with relatively inexpensive drones and missiles, as well as vessels off the coast. Despite Saudi Arabia's advanced military capabilities, there are concerns about their ability to counter the Houthis, particularly with supplies of high-end interceptors being pressured. The Houthis' attacks on Saudi Arabia are driven by their opposition to Saudi support for Yemen's internationally recognized government, leading to disruptions in key facilities and threatening the kingdom's international ambitions.