On Aug. 17, Israeli missile boats struck a power station in Yemen, in apparent retaliation against Houthi leaders. Jerusalem provided a justification. The Houthis have launched more than 100 ballistic missiles and dozens of armed drones against Israel since 2023. As if to underline the reasoning, the Houthis reportedly responded the next day with a hypersonic missile attack on Ben Gurion international airport near Tel Aviv.
The Houthis control two-thirds of Yemen’s population and coordinate with other terrorist groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The Iranian proxy group in Yemen frequently uses ballistic missiles and drones to not only attack Israel, but to sink commercial shipping in the Red Sea, which serves the Suez Canal.
Apparently, to further these ends, Iran delivers anti-ship cruise missiles to the Houthis, along with anti-aircraft missiles, cruise missiles, and chemical weapons. During U.S. air strikes on the Houthis in the spring, the terrorists frequently fired at U.S. military ships and managed to down seven U.S. Reaper drones. The Houthis also captured commercial ships and took their crews hostage. On Aug. 18, a report emerged that the Houthis resupplied militants in Yemen’s Western provinces with munitions, including missiles and radar systems, that will enable their continued attacks on international shipping.
The Houthi flag includes the words, “Death to the U.S.A., death to Israel,” and “Curse be upon the Jews,” which makes their goals crystal clear. According to Yemen’s government, which the United States supports, “The Houthis do not show a desire for peace because they live on war.” The foreign ministry added that “Iran’s role is very large in keeping them entrenched in these positions.” The conflict in Yemen, which proves deadly for civilians on both sides, persists because Iran discourages the Houthis from making compromises.
The Houthis obtain much of their military equipment from Iran, and their dual-use military technology from China. Beijing participates in the export of satellite technology, drones, and weapons manufacturing equipment to the terrorists, apparently in exchange for free passage of China’s shipping through the Red Sea. This increased by 85 percent since 2023, including with shadow tankers that supply China’s teapot refiners with sanctioned oil from Russia and Iran.
By Anders Corr
