Just as Iran used Hezbollah to expand its influence in the Levant, it is now using the Houthis to give it leverage in Bab al-Mandab and the Red Sea amid its war with the US
The US is backing Saudi Arabia against the Yemeni rebel group without physically joining the war, reflecting a broader strategy of limiting US exposure
Backed by the IRGC, the Houthis are intensifying pressure around southwestern Taiz, northern Lahj and Marib, while pro-government forces are largely on the defence
The presence of large armies and costly bases no longer guarantees control. The rules are now written by whoever has the will and the accessible means to enforce them
Beijing does not see Trump as someone capable of grand bargains like some of his White House predecessors were, so the Chinese leader will temper his expectations
Some analysts say Houthi advances are only possible due to help from the IRGC, while others believe the group has evolved into a much more sophisticated and potent force
The two countries were not always simpatico, but things changed after the war in Ukraine. Al Majalla tracks the evolution of their relationship and why it matters