Michael Knights is the Jill and Jay Bernstein Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute and cofounder of the Militia Spotlight platform, which offers in-depth analysis of developments related to Iran-backed militias.
Articles & Testimony
The Yemeni group has strengthened its capabilities and aggressiveness to the point where it may be less vulnerable to international pressure than its Iranian patron.
Over the past year of attacks on Israel and international shipping, the Iran-backed Houthis have delivered a strong military performance. They are seemingly aiming to be the “first in, last out,” meaning the first to cross key thresholds during the war (e.g., attack major Israeli cities) and the last to stop fighting despite numerous allied strikes inside Yemen. Facing weak domestic opposition, and having arguably solidified their line of supply from Iran, the Houthis are stronger, more technically proficient, and more prominent members of the “Axis of Resistance” than they were at the war’s outset. They can now exploit new opportunities by cooperating with other axis players in Iraq as well as with Russia, potentially offering Yemen as a platform from which Iran can deploy advanced weapons against Israel and the West without drawing direct retaliation...
