1. Home
2. Highlights
3. Houthis and Gaza: A ‘Calculated Support’ to Open Other Doors?

The Houthis’ involvement in the Gaza war is not merely an act of solidarity with Hamas. Behind their attacks on ships in the Red Sea and their declarations of support for the Palestinian cause lies a far more ambitious strategy: strengthening their position amid regional chaos and asserting their influence on the Middle East’s geopolitical stage.

From the very start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in October 2023, Yemen’s Houthis sought to position themselves as a key player on the anti-Israel front. Presenting their actions as an act of solidarity with the Palestinian cause, they launched a series of attacks on ships transiting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, claiming to target Israeli and Western interests. While these attacks were justified through rhetoric supporting Gaza, they were also part of a broader strategy aimed at bolstering their regional standing and solidifying their role within the Iran-backed “axis of resistance.”

A Strategic Leverage Beyond Palestine

The Houthis have skillfully used their declared support for Palestine to strengthen their geopolitical position beyond the Palestinian cause itself. While their rhetoric portrays them as defenders of Gaza, their involvement in the conflict is part of a broader calculation to consolidate their influence in Yemen and reshape regional balances. Some geopolitical experts point out that the Houthis, far from being mere instruments of Iranian policy, have managed to play an autonomous role in Yemen’s political landscape. Their commitment to Palestine primarily serves to enhance their legitimacy as a “resistance” movement against the Yemeni government, which is backed by the Saudi-led coalition.

This engagement has also been facilitated by Iran’s crucial military support, which has provided them with ballistic missiles, drones and advanced technologies to improve their military capabilities. According to a study by the International Crisis Group, Iran has supplied the Houthis with weapons, including long-range missiles, allowing them to extend their attacks beyond Yemen, even striking targets in the Red Sea. These new capabilities have transformed the Houthis into a more formidable actor and strengthened their position within the Iran-backed “axis of resistance.” The attacks on ships transiting the Red Sea demonstrated the strategic reach of these weapons and their ability to disrupt international navigation, further enhancing their influence beyond Yemen.

Western Retaliation and Impact on Global Trade

The escalation of Houthi-led maritime attacks quickly triggered a military response from the United States and its allies under the Operation Prosperity Guardian. This initiative aimed to protect strategic trade routes in the Red Sea, a vital passage for global commerce. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), about 12% of global trade and 30% of containerized freight pass through the Red Sea. Any disruption in this zone has significant global economic repercussions.

The targeted strikes carried out by the US and the United Kingdom aimed to neutralize Houthi military infrastructure in Yemen, specifically targeting missile and drone production sites. However, despite these retaliatory measures, the Houthis managed to maintain pressure on commercial shipping routes.

These tensions had immediate economic consequences, disrupting global trade flows. Many companies were forced to bypass the Red Sea, opting for longer routes around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. This detour significantly extended travel times, increased shipping costs, and led to price surges in global markets, particularly for energy products.

The Suspension of Strikes

On January 15, 2025, Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire that took effect on January 19. In the wake of this agreement, the Houthis announced the suspension of their Red Sea attacks, asserting that their actions were directly linked to the war in Gaza and that they were halting operations in the absence of hostilities. This decision was met with mixed reactions: while some viewed it as evidence of the Houthis’ commitment to their rhetoric of supporting Palestine, others saw it as a tactical move to avoid a prolonged military confrontation with Western powers.

What’s Next?

The halt in Houthi attacks does not mean the group will disappear from the regional stage. Their ability to disrupt global trade has given them unprecedented visibility while allowing them to test Western military responses.

Ultimately, the Houthis’ intervention in the Gaza war has allowed them to reposition themselves as a key player in regional conflicts. While their engagement may have paused with the ceasefire, their influence and disruptive capacity remain significant factors to watch in the strategic balances of the Middle East.