Why Yemen's Houthis have only grown stronger through years of war
Yemen's Houthi rebels have significantly expanded their military capabilities and influence despite years of international air raids. Experts attribute this growth to Iranian support, strategic use of mountainous terrain, and a committed ideological base.
Why it matters
The Houthis' increased ability to threaten global maritime trade routes and oil infrastructure poses a persistent challenge to regional and international security.
At various times over the last decade, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Britain and Israel have carried out punishing air raids on Yemen's Houthi rebels — only to see them grow even stronger.
Now, as the Iran-backed Houthis advance on a key maritime chokepoint and strike Saudi oil facilities, rattling world markets , there is little that can be done to stop them that hasn't been tried before.
That's because the Houthis operate in a large and mountainous territory where they can disperse fighters and military infrastructure while threatening major oil infrastructure and key trade routes. Iran and its allies in Lebanon and Iraq provide expertise, training and sophisticated weapons, according to the UN and other experts, and the Houthis' hard-line ideology does the rest.
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