Could the Houthis add to the Middle East's conflict?

Meanwhile, since October 2023, Israel has stepped up attacks on Hamas and Hezbollah targets, killing many senior figures and eliminating the infrastructure of these two forces in Gaza, Lebanon.

According to DW, so far, it seems that nothing can stop the Houthis. Mr. Mike Knights at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy assessed: "The Houthis are stronger, more technically proficient and a prominent member of the Axis of Resistance, compared to the early stages of the conflict."

The Axis of Resistance includes armed groups in Gaza, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen that are supported by Iran and have views opposing Israel and the United States.

“It can be said that the Houthis have survived the year of conflict without suffering a major defeat,” Mr. Knights analyzed.

In a recent speech, the Houthi leader in Yemen proudly announced the force's figures for the past year: The Houthis control much of northern Yemen, target 193 ships, and launch more than 1,000 missiles and drones at their enemies, including Israel.

Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said the moves were aimed at supporting Hamas and Hezbollah.

The Houthis were previously associated with the phrase "sandal-wearing motley militia" or "peasants with guns." However, today, the Houthis have the ability to launch ballistic missiles at Israel and shoot down US drones.

The Houthis are becoming a more prominent member of the Axis of Resistance, with al-Houthi leader even being considered a potential replacement for Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike last month.

"The Houthis have taken the spotlight," US-based analyst Mohammed Albasha told DW.

Experts have pointed to several factors that could make the Houthis more likely to cause trouble in the coming months. First, their proximity to Israel is an advantage. Unlike Hezbollah and Hamas, the Houthis are more than 2,000 kilometers from Israel.

The Houthis have also been fighting for decades. And over that time, they have decentralized every aspect of their operations, from fuel and food supplies to weapons production. The bases where Houthi members hide are located in Yemen’s mountains and tunnels, making them difficult to strike.

The Houthis have also established further links. They have offices in Iraq and claim to have attacked Israel in cooperation with Iraqi forces.

The Houthis also receive good weapons support from Iran. “Before October 7, 2023, Iran supplied the Houthis with older versions of missiles and drones. Currently, the Houthis are launching a modified version of Iran’s Kheibar Shekan medium-range ballistic missile,” Albasha explained.

Additionally, Mr. Knights argued that Yemen would be an ideal location for the missiles because of its geography and the ability to hide weapons in the mountains.

Notably, given its proximity to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Houthis also have the ability to attack these countries, increasing disruption to global trade and business. Last week, when announcing a missile attack on Israel, a Houthi spokesman warned that all US and UK interests in the region were “within our range.”

If Israel attacks Iranian oil facilities in retaliation for Tehran’s missile attack on October 1, the Houthis could retaliate by targeting energy facilities of U.S. allies. The Houthis launched missiles at Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities in March 2021.

“It’s certainly a concern. The Houthis could attack infrastructure in neighboring countries while Iran mines the Strait of Hormuz,” said Mick Mulroy, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the US. This would freeze energy shipments out of the region, triggering economic shockwaves, Mulroy said.