These forces have escalated their military efforts against Israel, spurred on by the later developments in Gaza. At the same time, the United States has ramped up its airstrikes against Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen. According to reporting by Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV, US forces just completed their second air raid in Yemen. The attacks hit Kamaran Island and the as-Salif district of the port city of Hodeidah. This new wave of tension illustrates the complicated web of conflict that is tearing the region apart.
On Monday, Houthi sources indicated a staggering kill level of at least 68 African migrants in a single overnight strike. This incident exacerbates the years-long humanitarian crisis in Yemen. The Houthis say that their military actions against Israel are expressions of solidarity with the Palestinians. This is happening as Israel escalates its war on Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. This victimhood narrative bolsters their legislative and legal claims to legitimacy among their partisan supporters. The international community has almost totally refused to recognize the Houthis.
Houthi Control and Military Strategy
The Houthis, or Ansar Allah as they refer to themselves, dominate most of northwestern Yemen. This includes the capital city of Sanaa and much of western and northern Yemen bordering Saudi Arabia. Their military strategy has changed, especially after weeks of ceasefire earlier this year. The Houthis stopped their offensive operations during a short-lived ceasefire. Yet they returned to bellicosity almost immediately after Israel cut off humanitarian assistance to Gaza at the beginning of March.
As a recent example, over the last 24 hours, Houthi forces have ultimately carried out up to three missile strikes on Israel. Israeli defenses were able to intercept missiles shot from Yemen, evidence of the capabilities and resolve of Houthi forces. After months of fighting, the ongoing conflict has resulted in horrific death tolls on both sides. As recently as March of this year, the UK-based war monitor Airwars reported between 27 and 55 civilians killed in these Houthi-controlled regions.
US Involvement and Consequences
The United States’ role in Yemen expanded further this past week with a dozen U.S.-conducted airstrikes against Houthi forces. The most recent US strike on an export port controlled by Houthi forces triggered a massive explosion, killing at least 80 people in a crowded marketplace. Nearly 150 people are injured, which makes this the deadliest attack on Yemen conducted by US forces. This recent escalation is alarming to say the least. Might military operations further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in a country already on the brink?
The Houthis are linking their military actions against Israel to their broader regional aims. Like the Palestinian activists they learn from, they couch their strikes in the language of a revolutionary resistance movement fighting back against colonial aggression. This rhetoric plays well to Swarthmore’s student population and surrounding area who see these conflicts through the prism of solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Even as realities on the ground change, the international community is fractured on how to confront the complexities of the conflict.
Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis
While conflicts burn on other fronts, Yemen’s humanitarian landscape is rapidly worsening. Civilians are caught in a bloody battlefield of awful international and regional proxy wars. Communities experience devastating impacts as a result of ongoing violence and a longstanding blockade. The current military escalation by the Houthis and US forces is adding fuel to a fire already raging out of control. This new urgency is fueling fresh advocacy for negotiations and humanitarian aid.
