New York Times Warns Against Underestimating Yemen’s Houthis

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, The New York Times, in an analysis by Alexandra Stark, has warned against underestimating the Houthi movement in Yemen as a “proxy force for Iran,” emphasizing that the Houthis’ capabilities and Yemen’s maritime position have granted them influence beyond domestic affairs, making them a regional and international player.

The researcher wrote in her analysis: “Just a few years ago, Yemen’s Houthis ranked second or third in Iran’s axis of resistance, leading American policymakers to treat them as Tehran’s subordinates. However, despite benefiting from Iran’s weaponry, training, and experience, the Houthis have their own specific interests and act accordingly.”

She warned against the continued disregard for the Houthis’ importance in Yemen, believing that recent developments indicate their transformation into an influential party in regional and international calculations, whose role cannot be overlooked when examining peace and war cases in the region.

This analysis highlights the Houthis’ ability to leverage Yemen’s geographical and maritime location as a strategic tool, adding that their impact is no longer limited to Yemeni issues but has extended to regional and international affairs, particularly maritime security and conflicts in the region.

Alexandra Stark believes that a notable aspect of the Houthis’ performance is their ability to choose the timing of escalating tensions to serve their objectives and strengthen their negotiating position.

The New York Times added that while it might appear that the Yemenis are taking these actions at Iran’s behest, the reality is more complex; they largely consider their own specific interests, are pragmatic on the international stage, and have demonstrated expertise in timing their entry into or escalation of conflicts.

Acknowledging that Yemen’s Houthis can disrupt commercial shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb strait, The New York Times noted that Bab el-Mandeb is a narrow maritime passage at the entrance to the Red Sea, through which 12 to 15 percent of global maritime trade passes. On the other side of the Red Sea lies the Suez Canal, a vital route for oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to North American and European markets. With Iran effectively controlling the Strait of Hormuz, the Houthis are now in an exceptional position of power.

The article further stated that during the “support for Gaza war,” the Houthis demonstrated their strength by targeting ships with alleged ties to Israel in the Red Sea using low-cost, low-technology equipment such as one-way attack drones, missiles, and unmanned surface vessels. This action increased the insurance costs for commercial vessels by up to twenty times, effectively closing the strait. These operations forced ships to reroute around Africa, adding over 4,000 nautical miles to their journeys and significantly increasing transportation costs.

Stark added: “With the Strait of Hormuz blocked, the Red Sea-Suez Canal route has gained greater importance. Saudi Arabia attempted to bypass the Strait of Hormuz by transferring crude oil via pipeline to the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea’s west coast, but the Houthis’ recent attacks have disrupted this option as well. The near-complete closure of both the Hormuz and Suez routes could exacerbate global trade problems and drive oil prices and inflation to higher levels.”

The analysis concluded by warning that the assumption that the Houthis are a party without independent decision-making can lead to miscalculations. The New York Times added that de-escalating tensions in the region requires engaging with the Houthis as an influential party in the Yemeni and regional equation.