Declaring solidarity and full support for Hamas after the start of the Israel-Hamas war, the Houthis—a Zaydi Shia group, also known historically as Ansar Allah and currently in control of large parts of Yemen—launched missile attacks on Israel on 19 October 2023. They soon realised that while direct attacks on Israel garnered publicity, their ineffectiveness meant this strategy would lead to rapidly diminishing returns. With a record of relative success in the maritime domain during ‘Operation Restoring Hope’—a military campaign undertaken by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) between 2015 and 2022 against Yemeni rebel forces—the Houthis began targeting Israeli-owned or -linked merchant ships from November 2023 onwards. The scope of the attacks was subsequently expanded to include vessels associated with the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), and other nations supporting Israel’s military operations.
The US Offensive Against the Houthis Delivered Limited Results
