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Current US Policy Towards Houthis Yielding Mixed Results [1]
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Date: 2025-04-24
Current US Policy Towards Houthis Yielding Mixed Results
By Alex Wagner
The Trump administration has upped the ante in its endeavors to counter Houthi disruptions in the Red Sea. The current approach was described as being one that is “ unrelenting ”, and that is a largely accurate depiction. After only a few months in office, the administration has conducted over 100 strikes . This represents a significant increase as compared with the Biden Administration. The US also recently targeted Sanna, the capital of Yemen, with strikes. The Houthis currently control Sanaa, in addition to other territory in which 80 percent of Yemen’s population resides.
The efficacy of these strikes is an ongoing analysis. The current assessments are fairly wide-ranging. According to Behnam Taleblu, an Iran expert at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, the US has been unable to “meaningfully impact Houthi capabilities and intentions as well as their financial and materiel supply lines from Iran.” On the other hand, however, is the news that recent US strikes have killed over 70 Houthi militants, with several high-level commanders among them. According to Yemeni Minister of Information Moammar Al-Eryani, these strikes have caused “ widespread chaos ” among the Houthi ranks as well as amongst their Iranian backers. That is a notably more cheerful view of the efficacy of the Trump administration's recent efforts. It is likely that both assessments have their own merit. The hard realities of an uninterrupted support stream of logistics and armaments from Iran can certainly coexist alongside a chaotic and fear-ridden psychological situation for the militants themselves, not to mention the holes in leadership that the Houthis are currently dealing with.
Over the course of the Israel - Hamas war, the Houthis have been an outsized presence and threat to freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most important waterways. They have, with help from Iran, driven down traffic in the Red Sea massively , as shippers opt for longer, safer routes. They have been extremely effective at creating problems for the United States and maritime operators. It is not a surprise that the Trump administration has decided to ramp up the pressure. Unfortunately, bombing alone is highly unlikely to eliminate or greatly diminish the Houthi threat. They have proven their ability to withstand bombing campaigns. Even US officials have admitted that the Houthis maintain much of their military capabilities. The caveat they offer is that these capabilities have been built up over 10 years of funding from Iran. Irrespective of how the Houthis continue to maintain their capabilities, their offensive ability to create havoc on the Red Sea is not going anywhere any time soon.
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