Yemen- Yemen’s Houthi movement has emerged as a more strategically useful ally for Iran than Hezbollah, combining Iranian military support with control of territory and a key position along the Red Sea, Yemen analyst Mohammad al-Basha told Iran International.
Unlike many Iran-backed groups, the Houthis control territory and function as a de facto authority. After capturing Sanaa in 2014, they took control of areas containing about 80 percent of Yemen’s population and inherited much of the former North Yemeni military infrastructure.
Al-Basha said this combination of territorial control, military capabilities and geography gives the Houthis an advantage over Hezbollah and Iran-backed Iraqi militias. Their control of areas near the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab, a vital global shipping route, provides Tehran with an important strategic asset.
The Houthis have also benefited from Iran’s military assistance. Tehran has supplied anti-ship and land-attack missiles, cruise missiles and long-range drones, while Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Quds Force maintain close ties with the movement.
“The Houthis will not be as strong as they are today without Iran,” Al-Basha said, while acknowledging that the group has developed some domestic weapons production and assembly capabilities.
However, the relationship is not simply one of Iranian control. Al-Basha said the Houthis have their own political and financial objectives and are using the current regional crisis to strengthen their position against Saudi Arabia and increase their influence over maritime routes.
The disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has increased the importance of Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea routes, giving the Houthis greater leverage around Bab al-Mandab. The group is reportedly seeking about $100 million a month in salary support and billions of dollars in reparations from Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis are also facing serious financial pressure. Although they collect revenue from ports, taxation, customs, communications and aviation, much of their income is directed toward military activities. Al-Basha cited signs of economic hardship in Houthi-controlled areas as evidence of growing pressure.
Beyond financial demands, the Houthis reportedly view control of Bab al-Mandab as a major strategic objective. Such control would allow them to threaten maritime traffic more directly and strengthen their position against Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
Al-Basha also warned that the Houthis’ ambitions extend beyond Yemen, including reported activities in the Horn of Africa and recruitment efforts in Sudan.
The weakening of other members of Iran’s regional network—including Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as the loss of Syria as a key land corridor—has further increased the Houthis’ importance to Tehran. Their combination of military strength, territorial control and strategic geography makes them one of Iran’s most consequential regional partners.
