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In March 2025, the United States launched a series of airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, targeting bases, missile defenses, and key leadership. The operation aimed to neutralize threats to international shipping and assert freedom of navigation through the vital Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. The Houthis, backed by Iran, vowed retaliation, intensifying tensions in an already volatile region.

Who are the Houthis?

• Sect and Origin: Houthis belong to the Zaidi Shia sect, primarily based in Yemen’s northwestern Sa’dah province. The movement originated in the 1990s as a sociopolitical rebellion against President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s regime.
• Role in Yemen’s Civil War: Since 2014, the Houthis have controlled large parts of Yemen, including the capital, Sana’a. They are one of the main belligerents in the civil war, opposing the internationally recognized Yemeni government (backed by Saudi Arabia and the U.S.).
• Foreign Links: The Houthis are aligned with Iran and are considered part of the Iran-led "Axis of Resistance" opposing Israel and Western interests in West Asia.

Geopolitical Importance of Yemen

• Strategic Location: Yemen borders Saudi Arabia and Oman and has coastlines along the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Arabian Sea.
• Bab-el-Mandeb Strait: This narrow maritime chokepoint between Yemen and Djibouti is a crucial link between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea (via the Suez Canal and Red Sea).
  • It is essential for global oil shipments and international maritime trade.
  • Disruptions here threaten energy security and commercial shipping routes.

U.S. Justification and Objectives

• Freedom of Navigation: The U.S. stated that the strikes aimed to protect commercial and naval vessels from attacks and ensure navigational freedom.
• Military Goal: According to U.S. officials, the campaign will continue until the Houthis lose the capability to threaten global shipping.

Regional Reactions

• Iran: Strongly condemned the U.S. airstrikes, asserting that Washington had no authority to dictate West Asian security dynamics.
• Houthi Response: Warned of retaliation, indicating a potential escalation in the Red Sea and Arabian Peninsula.