Houthi attacks on Saudi airports and energy installations, together with the threats they pose to shipping in the Red Sea, show the Yemeni rebel group’s intentions to expand their control in Yemen and beyond.
Meanwhile, the Yemeni government is fighting back. It recently launched Operation Dawn of Yemen, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, aimed at rolling back the Houthis’ recent territorial gains—particularly Bab al-Mandab, the strategic maritime chokepoint at the mouth of the Red Sea.
In this week’s cover story, Al Majalla looks at the military balance of power on the ground, the networks through which the Houthis obtain their weapons, as well as the foreign support they receive. Can the group be defeated militarily? Our writers give their respective takes.
