The Houthis: A wasp buzzing amidst its nest's ruins
FOR the past ten years, the Houthi group has been sowing instability throughout the region, and pursuing a destructive agenda that strengthens the influence of certain countries within the axis of evil. Some international powers, particularly the United States, have turned a blind eye to these actions, either due to their unstable relations with Saudi Arabia or in pursuit of international objectives outside the Middle East. In recent years, this situation has significantly disrupted the movement of goods and commercial vessels in the Arabian Sea, the Bab al- Mandab Strait, and the Indian Ocean. At times, it has even led to attacks on American, British, and French military vessels, often under the pretext of the so-called 'Gaza Support War.' The primary aim of these attacks appears to be strengthening Iran's negotiating position in secret talks with the international community.
In the first phase, attacks on several Gulf states, including those targeting holy sites in Saudi Arabia, were met with a unified Gulf response. The Gulf states attempted to maintain a minimum level of communication, hoping to broker a long-term truce out of compassion for the oppressed Yemeni people, who have become victims of the group's control over Sana'a's decision-making. Since October 7, 2023, the Houthi group expanded its destabilizing efforts in the vital Bab al-Mandab Strait. This move sends a clear message to the entire region: Regional peace lies in the hands of Iran and its destructive axis, and no resolution can occur without Tehran's involvement. The four capitals that Iran boasted of controlling were merely a façade, serving as a mere mailbox for its influence.
Today, the situation has shifted dramatically, with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps' influence still entrenched in Sana'a, after Beirut and Damascus were removed from Iran's sphere of control. The arguments put forth by the Houthis, supported by international powers with narrow agendas aligned with Iran (such as Russia), will not alter the worldview. This is because there is no connection between the Ukraine conflict and the Middle East. Moreover, American interests in the region are far greater than those elsewhere. This is why Washington is more concerned about regional affairs than Russia. The U.S. will not tolerate a terrorist group destabilizing the maritime zone within its sphere of influence.
In response to Houthi terrorism, the previous U.S. administration carried out operations over the past months, taking into account the complicated relationship between the U.S. and some Gulf states. However, under President Donald Trump's administration, the approach shifted significantly, as he dealt with the region more pragmatically than his successor, President Joe Biden. Therefore, the disciplinary operation launched by the 'Prosperity Guardian Alliance' to protect commercial waterways in the region was necessary for protecting world peace, especially as there are some who dream of reshaping the world through terrorism.
This situation inevitably echoes the events leading up to World War II, when a madman named Hitler dominated German decision-making. His ambition to rule the world with an iron fist ultimately led to his downfall and the destruction of Germany. Those who support the Houthis, Hezbollah, and the remnants of the Iraqi sectarian gangs have failed to learn from the lessons of the past. Today, the situation is collapsing upon them, with the Houthis being the latest to face this downfall. Their fate will likely be similar to that of Hezbollah in Lebanon. The calculations of the great powers extend far beyond 'a wasp gnawing at the ruin of its nest'.
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