Despite airstrikes by Israel, the United States, and other allies on Yemen, the Houthis remain a harrowing menace
IN Israel’s multifront war on Iranian proxies, its near-total dismantling of Hamas and its pummeling of Hezbollah into seeking a ceasefire have left the Houthis of Yemen as the last terror group able to mount attacks. Despite airstrikes by Israel, the United States, and other allies on Yemen, the Houthis remain a harrowing menace. To better understand the Houthis’ true power and the IDF’s options for neutralizing them, Mishpacha spoke with Ilan Zalayat of the Institute for National Security Studies.
The Houthis are Zaydists, a branch of Shia Islam that believes Muslim actions can accelerate what they view as the final redemption. The Houthis see the 1979 Iranian Revolution as their guiding model, interpreting every Islamic achievement as bringing the end times a step closer. In their view, the events of October 7 represented a divine success for the Muslim world, making participation in the war against Israel a matter of religious and ideological imperative.
The Houthis control only one-third of Yemen’s territory, but around 70 percent of the population. Their strategy hinges on bolstering their legitimacy in the eyes of their people. They label Israel as their clear enemy — a sentiment shared by many Yemenis. Every Israeli strike on Yemen only solidifies the Houthis’ legitimacy among their supporters.
The port of Hodeidah is the Houthis’ gateway for food, humanitarian aid, and, crucially, weaponry. Anyone wanting to crush Houthi power would need to neutralize this port.
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