Yemen's Houthi Rebels Transformed into Powerful Military Force with Iranian Support

Yemen's Houthi rebels have undergone a significant transformation from a local armed group with limited capabilities to a powerful military organization, thanks to support from Iran, Iraqi armed groups, Lebanon's Hezbollah militants, and others.

The Iranian-backed Houthis have exploited the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza to enhance their status in Iran's self-described "Axis of Resistance," gaining popularity in the region and beyond. The Houthis have been attacking vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, disrupting global shipping in a key geopolitical area.

Despite claims that they would target ships linked to Israel, investigations showed that the rebels have been targeting vessels indiscriminately, with at least 134 attacks carried out between November 15, 2023, and July 31, 2024. The Houthis have used a new ballistic missile, the Hatem-2, in their attacks.

The Houthi transformation has been possible due to the transfer of military materiel and training provided by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's elite Quds Force, Hezbollah, and Iraqi specialists and technicians. The group's shift to actions at sea has increased their influence in the region.

The UN experts noted that such a scale of attacks on civilian vessels has not occurred since World War II. The Houthis have also coordinated operations with al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula and strengthened ties with the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab militant group in Somalia.

Inside Yemen, the Houthis have intensified military operations against the government, recruiting large numbers of Yemeni youths and children, and exploiting Ethiopian migrants. The internal military situation is fragile, and any trigger could lead to the resumption of military confrontations.

Yemen's government reported 3,298 cases of child recruitment in the first half of 2024, with youngsters used as human shields, spies, and in combat. The Houthis have imposed restrictions on women's freedoms, including limiting their movement and access to healthcare.

The conflict in Yemen has escalated into a major international crisis, with the number of Houthi fighters estimated at 350,000, compared to 220,000 in 2022 and 30,000 in 2015.