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The Houthis after One Year of War

(Combating Terrorism Center at West Point) Michael Knights - Over the past year of attacks on Israeli and international shipping, the Iran-backed Houthis have delivered a strong military performance. Having solidified their line of supply from Iran, the Houthis are stronger, more technically proficient, and more prominent members of the "Axis of Resistance" than they were at the war's outset. On Oct. 31, 2023, they launched the first-ever medium-range ballistic missile against Israel by a member of the Axis of Resistance. The Houthis have struck and sunk commercial ships in support of Hamas, and they have weathered the year of war without suffering major setbacks. Escalating U.S. and UK military strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen did not end the Houthi anti-shipping campaign or even significantly reduce its operational tempo. The Houthis have arguably improved their effectiveness and efficiency as the war has progressed, by taking advantage of fluctuating U.S. aircraft carrier presence in the Red Sea. The Houthis also weathered a heavy Israeli retaliatory strike on one of their two main port complexes. The writer is a Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, specializing in military and security affairs of Iraq, Iran, and the Gulf states.
2024-10-13 00:00:00
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