Observers note that Israel’s first attack on Yemen’s Houthi rebels is expected to enhance the group’s political leverage and broaden their appeal amid growing discontent in Yemen over the Gaza war. Analysts believe the attack on the port city of Hodeidah, which reportedly killed six people and ignited a massive fire, will provide the Houthis with significant political capital. Maged Al-Madhaji, co-founder of the Sanaa Centre for Strategic Studies, stated that this strike legitimizes Houthi claims of being at war with Israel, potentially increasing their support base as anger over the Gaza conflict mounts in Yemen.
The Houthis, who have defied numerous strikes by the United States and Britain, have positioned themselves as a crucial part of Tehran’s regional network since the start of the Israel-Gaza war in October. This network includes armed groups in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. Since November, the Houthis have conducted nearly 90 attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The recent Houthi drone attack on Tel Aviv, which breached Israel’s air defenses and resulted in a fatality, triggered Israel’s retaliatory strike on Hodeidah.
Following the Hodeidah attack, hundreds of Yemenis in the rebel-controlled capital Sanaa demonstrated, chanting anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans while waving Palestinian flags. Afrah Nasser, a non-resident fellow at the Arab Center Washington DC, noted that such attacks serve as potent propaganda tools for the Houthis, enabling them to rally supporters by portraying themselves as defenders against external aggression. This strategy can attract new recruits and solidify their base.
Despite repeated US and British strikes intended to deter Houthi attacks on shipping since January, the rebels have remained resilient. Gregory Johnsen, associate director of the Institute for Future Conflict at the US Air Force Academy, emphasized that the Houthis seek to be perceived as fighting the “American-Zionist” alliance, which intertwines their goals with the popular Palestinian cause in Yemen and mitigates domestic dissent.
The Houthis, who seized Sanaa in 2014, have withstood nearly a decade of war without losing significant control. Elisabeth Kendall of the University of Cambridge remarked that the Houthi leadership is undeterred by military strikes and will likely be emboldened by their growing notoriety. Andreas Krieg of King’s College London added that Israel’s strike on Hodeidah would not significantly disrupt the Houthi supply chain, as Iran’s diversified supply routes can still deliver weapon components to Yemen.
