"U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking revealed on Thursday that Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi leaders have chosen to maintain a lower public profile following the setbacks suffered by Iran's regional proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas, at the hands of Israel, as well as the overthrow of Iran’s ally Bashar al-Assad in Syria by Sunni Islamist insurgents.
ual diplomatic event in Qatar.
Despite these precautions, Lenderking highlighted that the Houthis continue their aggressive activities. “Their reduced visibility hasn’t diminished their ability or determination to launch attacks on ships,” he explained.
He pointed to the broader regional dynamics as a warning for the Houthis. “With Hezbollah and Hamas weakened, the Houthis remain active, recklessly carrying out indiscriminate attacks. But they would be wise to learn from the fate of their regional allies,” Lenderking advised. He added, “Most Yemenis don’t support the Houthis, and pressure is mounting on them to change course.”
The Houthis are currently perceived as the most stable of Iran's proxies, although their position remains precarious. The October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas led to devastating retaliations, leaving the group on the verge of collapse. Hezbollah’s involvement through rocket attacks on Israel resulted in severe losses, including the elimination of key leadership figures. Iran’s Shiite militias in Iraq refrained from major involvement, while Assad’s regime in Syria fell after a rapid insurgency, weakened by limited support from Iran and Russia.
Meanwhile, the Houthis have intensified their attacks on global shipping in the Red Sea over the past year, targeting civilian vessels under the guise of punishing Israel for its Gaza campaign. They have also launched missiles and drones at Israel. Despite punitive strikes from the U.S. and Israel, these attacks persist.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) recently reported that U.S. Navy destroyers thwarted two Houthi missile and drone attacks on merchant ships this month, with no injuries or damages reported.
Lenderking expressed hope that the fall of Assad could spur change in Yemen, citing the growing discontent among civilians in Houthi-controlled areas. However, he acknowledged the Houthis’ refusal to signal any interest in de-escalation. “My latest visit to the region reflects the increasing frustration with the Houthis’ unwillingness to ease tensions,” he noted.
The U.S. envoy also emphasized efforts to block weapons smuggling to the Houthis, though he admitted the group has grown more self-sufficient, producing many of their own weapons. He revealed that the Houthis have presented demands, including the removal of U.S. ships from the region, increased foreign aid, and lifting their designation as a terrorist organization, in exchange for reducing Red Sea attacks.
Lenderking warned that even a temporary halt to these attacks would not resolve the long-term security challenges posed by the Houthis.
The ongoing disruptions caused by Houthi aggression have inflicted significant economic damage, with global shipping routes diverted around Africa, raising costs by over 200 percent and slashing revenues for Egypt’s Suez Canal by 60 percent. According to analysts from Israel Defense Forces, the fall of Assad might embolden the Houthis to escalate their attacks, as they could see an opportunity to take a leading role in assaults on Israel."
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