US Hesitates to Engage Houthis Due to Past War Risks
Translated & summarized from Cursorinfo by baba
The United States is hesitant to directly engage in the conflict with the Houthi movement in Yemen, citing the high costs and limited success of past military operations. Despite Saudi Arabia's need for support against renewed Houthi attacks, Washington is wary of a protracted war, recalling previous campaigns that failed to decisively defeat the group. The Houthis' capabilities, bolstered by Iranian support, pose a threat to regional security and international shipping, impacting economies like Egypt's and Israel's. Instead of direct intervention, options being considered include limiting Iranian support to the Houthis or bolstering local Yemeni forces opposing them.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- US is hesitant to engage Houthis due to risks and costs demonstrated in past operations.
- Houthi capabilities, supported by Iran, threaten regional security and international shipping.
- Previous Saudi-led and US operations failed to decisively defeat the Houthi movement.
- Disruptions to shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait have impacted Israel and Egypt.
- Alternative strategies include limiting Iranian support or bolstering Yemeni anti-Houthi forces.
The United States is not rushing to intervene in the escalating conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi movement, despite growing regional security concerns. Washington is mindful of the risks demonstrated in previous operations in Yemen, where even extensive airstrikes failed to defeat the Iran-backed group, which possesses missiles, drones, and Iranian support. Professor Eyal Zisser described the Yemeni conflict as one of the Middle East's most complex military challenges, noting how the Houthis evolved from a local movement into a force threatening regional stability and international shipping.
The Houthi movement, named after its founder Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi and originating among Zaydi Shiites, initially focused on Yemen's internal politics but gained international significance through its alliance with Iran. Tehran's military and financial backing enabled the Houthis to develop an arsenal threatening beyond Yemen, particularly their ability to strike energy infrastructure and maritime trade routes. Attacks in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait have disrupted shipping, impacting Israel's Eilat port and Egypt's Suez Canal revenues.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE launched Operation "Decisive Storm" in 2015 to counter the Houthis after their capture of Sanaa, employing large-scale strikes and supporting Yemeni forces. However, this air campaign did not achieve its objectives, with the Houthis retaining significant military capabilities and continuing to develop their missile and drone programs. The coalition faced increased costs due to Houthi attacks on strategic targets, leading to a ceasefire that did not resolve the underlying conflict.
The U.S. also conducted strikes against Houthi targets but struggled to neutralize the threat, partly due to the high cost of employing expensive missiles against cheaper drones and dispersed targets. The decentralized nature of the Houthi movement, operating in small groups and utilizing difficult terrain, further complicated U.S. efforts. Former President Donald Trump opted to cease American strikes to avoid escalating a costly campaign.
Israel has also conducted operations against Houthi targets to limit their ability to attack Israeli territory, though this has not ended the threat. The current escalation sees the Houthis clashing with Saudi Arabia and forces aligned with Yemen's internationally recognized government in the south. Saudi Arabia seeks further support, but direct U.S. involvement in a large-scale operation remains uncertain due to Washington's reluctance to engage in a protracted war.
Potential strategies being considered include weakening the Houthis by curtailing Iranian support, expanding cooperation with anti-Houthi Yemeni factions, or pursuing political agreements with elements of the movement, leveraging the historical and religious differences between the Houthis and Iran's leadership. The historical precedent of Egypt's costly intervention in Yemen in the 1960s serves as a warning against direct ground intervention, highlighting the risks posed by Yemen's terrain, numerous armed groups, and internal divisions.