Following Israel's strike on Iran, it remains to be seen in what way Iran-backed Houthi rebels will react. In the past days, they were outspoken in their support for Tehran. As part of the Iran-led "Axis of Resistance" — Iran's paramilitary proxy groups in the Middle East including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Shiite militias in Iraq — also the Houthis regard the US and Israel as its enemy. The Houthis control parts of the north, west and center of Yemen, including the capital. Sanaa. As a consequence of the tensions between the United States and Iran, there have also been visible signs of unease inside Outhit-controlled areas. The Houthis appear fully equipped for potential strikes. "Their most consequential military asset remains their long-range drone and missile arsenal and, despite several rounds of US and Israeli airstrikes, the group appears to retain long-range strike capabilities," Luca Nevola, senior Yemen analyst at the US-based research initiative Armed Conflict Location & Event Data project (ACLED), told DW.. In February, an in-depth report by the US-based Century Foundation research organization highlighted the Houthis' independence from Iran when it comes to arms production. "Weapons, components and raw materials are shipped to the Houthis from multiple sources, taking looping routes on sea and land, sometimes overshooting Yemen and doubling back," the report states. "When parts finally arrive in Houthi territory on the boats of smugglers or regular tradespeople — some of whom may have no idea they are carrying anything illicit — the Houthis are able to assemble them into a formidable arsenal." For Yemenis, who have borne the brunt of years of civil war, ongoing domestic tensions between the Houthis and the Yemeni government, and widespread hunger, the outlook is anything but reassuring. Niku Jafarnia, Yemen researcher at Human Rights Watch, told DW that in the past "we've witnessed the Houthis increase in human rights violations when the world's attention is focused on regional conflict." If history is an indicator of what could come, Jafarnia said, a "war with Iran could provide yet another cover for the Houthis to carry out widespread abuses against Yemenis." |
