James Farwell & Jahara Matisek
Rethinking U.S. Strategy Against the Houthis
Since January 2024, the United States, Britain, and Israel have launched airstrikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels in response to their attacks on commercial shipping and U.S. military aircraft near the Red Sea. One U.S. aircraft carrier narrowly avoided a missile strike—though an F-18 jet was lost in the maneuver—and the Houthis have sunk two cargo vessels, thus far disrupting 15% of global maritime trade that transits this critical corridor.
Major shipping companies have rerouted, avoiding the Red Sea entirely, while Europe lacks the naval capacity to secure these waters on its own. Airstrikes have failed to deter the Houthis, and with the group resuming attacks in July, it seems evident that President Trump’s peace deal with them in May is in tatters. The U.S. must now pursue a broader strategy, targeting Houthi enablers like Iran and China, revitalizing diplomacy, and preparing a coordinated military response if necessary. Most importantly, President Trump must punish the Houthis for welching on the peace deal and to signal new repercussions unless they respect their agreement.
The Houthis, a Zaydi Shiite movement, emerged in the 1990s amid persecution by former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. They rose to prominence in Yemen’s 2004 north-south conflict, championing anti-corruption and social justice. But the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq radicalized them, inspiring their infamous slogan: “God is great, death to the U.S., death to Israel, curse the Jews, victory for Islam.” Backed by Hezbollah and supplied by Iran, the Houthis seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014 and demanded greater political power.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE intervened in 2015, hoping to dislodge them from southern Yemen. But their campaign failed, producing famine, civilian casualties, and accusations of war crimes. The U.S., implicated through arms and intelligence support, became a lightning rod for Houthi propaganda, bolstering their narrative of foreign oppression and resistance.
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