Houthi Rebels Gain Power, Fueling Regional Tensions: UN Report
A new United Nations report paints a stark picture of the growing military strength and international reach of Yemen’s Houthi rebels, The Associated Press reports.
The report, compiled by a panel of UN experts monitoring sanctions against the Houthis, reveals a significant transformation of the group from a local armed faction to a powerful military force, heavily supported by Iran and its allies.
The report, spanning 537 pages, outlines the Houthis’ strategic exploitation of the recent Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, using the conflict to bolster their image and solidify their position within Iran’s self-proclaimed “Axis of Resistance.” This includes intensifying attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, disrupting global shipping in a critical geopolitical region.
While the Houthis claim their attacks target ships linked to Israel, the UN panel insists their investigations prove the rebels indiscriminately target vessels. The report analyzes data from various sources, revealing at least 134 attacks carried out from Houthi-controlled areas between November 2023 and July 2024.
The report also sheds light on the Houthis’ arsenal, identifying a new, previously undisclosed ballistic missile, the Hatem-2, used in their attacks.
The panel, comprised of experts from India, Egypt, Switzerland, Belgium and Cabo Verde, further reveals concerning ties between the Houthis and other militant groups. Confidential sources have disclosed coordination between the Houthis and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, while ties with the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab in Somalia are also strengthening.
This surge in Houthi power is attributed to significant support from Iran’s elite Quds Force, Hezbollah, and Iraqi specialists and technicians. The UN report notes the transfer of advanced military technology, including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, drones, portable air defense systems, and thermal sights, which the Houthis could not produce without foreign assistance.
The report also highlights similarities between the Houthis’ military equipment and those used by Iran and its allies within the Axis of Resistance. Joint operations centers established in Iraq and Lebanon with Houthi representation further solidify the coordinated military actions between these groups.
Inside Yemen, the report details the Houthis’ intensified military operations against the internationally recognized government. The group has been aggressively recruiting Yemeni youth and children, including Ethiopian migrants, forcing them into combat and engaging in trafficking narcotics. The recruitment of children has reportedly intensified since the Gaza war and US/UK airstrikes in Yemen.
The UN report concludes by emphasizing the escalating nature of the Yemen conflict, which began as an internal struggle but has now become a major international crisis. The report notes that the number of Houthi fighters has skyrocketed to an estimated 350,000, compared to 220,000 in 2022 and only 30,000 in 2015.
