March 15th, the Trump administration initiated a series of powerful U.S. air strikes targeting Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, aiming to dismantle the group’s military infrastructure and halt their disruptive attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes. These strikes, marked a significant escalation in U.S. military action against the Iran-backed Houthis, reflecting a strategic shift to protect American interests and restore navigational freedom in the region.
The Houthi Group in Yemen: A Complex Crisis Unraveled
The Houthi movement, formally known as Ansar Allah, is a powerful armed faction rooted in Yemen’s Muslim minority. Emerging in the 1990s under the leadership of Hussein al-Houthi, the group began as a revivalist movement opposing foreign influence and government corruption.
Over time, it evolved into a military force, particularly during Yemen’s civil war, which erupted in 2014. Today, the Houthis are a central player in Yemen’s ongoing conflict, raising questions about their actions and designation as a terrorist organization.
Are the Houthis Terrorists?
The United States has designated them a terrorist organization in January 2021 under President Trump, only for President Biden to reverse this decision a month later due to humanitarian concerns.
The designation returned in early 2025 amid escalated attacks on Red Sea shipping. Backed by Iran, the Houthis have targeted civilian and military vessels, launched missiles at Israel, and clashed with Saudi-led forces, actions that many nations view as terrorism.
However, the Houthis frame their fight as resistance against foreign aggression and support for Palestinians, complicating the narrative. Their use of drones, ballistic missiles, and child soldiers has drawn international condemnation.
Do They Control Yemen?
The Houthis do not control all of Yemen but hold a lot of territory, including the capital, Sanaa, and key western regions like the Red Sea port of Hodeidah. Since overthrowing the internationally recognized government in 2014, they’ve established an alternative government, collecting taxes, cutting off food supply, and managing local affairs in areas home to roughly two-thirds of Yemen’s population.
The legitimate government, now based in Aden under the Presidential Leadership Council, retains control over southern and eastern regions but struggles to assert authority nationwide. The Houthis’ grip on northern Yemen has solidified their influence, though the country remains fractured.
Starvation in Yemen: Are the Houthis Responsible?
Yemen is grappling with the world’s worst humanitarian and starvation crisis, with millions facing starvation. Photos are too graphic to show. The Houthis bear significant blame for this disaster. Their control over Hodeidah, a critical entry point for food imports, has allowed them to impose restrictions and taxes that disrupt aid delivery.
Reports indicate they’ve diverted humanitarian supplies for profit or to loyalists, leaving vulnerable populations—without food and essentials. A UN report from 2024 highlighted how Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping have driven up food prices and jeopardized imports, further deepening food insecurity. By targeting fishermen and coastal communities, they’ve also reduced local food availability. While the broader war, including Saudi-led blockades, shares responsibility, the Houthis’ actions directly contribute to the suffering of Yemen’s poorest.
The Houthis have been implicated in widespread violence. Their takeover of Sanaa in 2014 sparked a civil war that has claimed over 377,000 lives, many from indirect causes like hunger and disease, but thousands from direct combat.
They’ve clashed with government forces, Saudi coalitions, and rival militias, often targeting civilians. Missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Israel have killed civilians abroad, while domestically, they’ve been accused of executing dissenters and using indiscriminate shelling.
In March 2025, Houthi sources claimed U.S. strikes killed 31 people, underscoring the cycle of violence they perpetuate and endure.
The Houthis escalated their campaign in late 2023, attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea to protest Israel’s war in Gaza.
Controlling Yemen’s western coast, they’ve launched over 100 drone and missile strikes, sinking two vessels, seizing one, and killing four crew members.
U.S. Airstrikes and Houthi Response
In January 2024, the U.S. and UK launched airstrikes on Houthi targets following Red Sea attacks, hitting weapons depots and bases.
The campaign intensified yesterday, on March 15th, when President Trump ordered large-scale strikes after warning of “overwhelming lethal force.” U.S. jets struck Sanaa, Saada, and other sites, killing at least 31, per Houthi reports, though figures vary.
The Houthis vowed retaliation, with leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi promising escalated attacks on U.S. ships and interests. Their resilience, bolstered by Iranian support, suggests the strikes have not deterred their operations.
Leadership: Houthi and Yemen
Abdul Malik al-Houthi, brother of the movement’s slain founder Hussein, leads the Houthis. A reclusive figure, he directs military and political strategy from northern Yemen, often meeting allies like Iran in secret.
Yemen’s internationally recognized leader is Rashad al-Alimi, chair of the Presidential Leadership Council since 2022, when Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi transferred power. Based in Aden, Alimi’s government struggles for legitimacy amid the Houthi challenge.
Aid Efforts and the Starvation Motive
International organizations like the World Food Programme (WFP) and UN agencies are battling to aid Yemen’s starving millions, but Houthi interference complicates delivery. In 2019, the WFP briefly suspended aid in Houthi areas after theft accusations, affecting 850,000 people.
Why do the Houthis starve their own? Control is key: by monopolizing resources, they strengthen their grip on power, fund their war machine, and punish dissent. Their ideological alignment with Iran’s “axis of resistance” prioritizes military goals over civilian welfare, viewing hunger as a byproduct of their broader struggle.
The Houthis dominate much of Yemen but not its entirety, with influence through violence and food and resource control.
Their role in starving groups and children, killing civilians is undeniable.
The Red Sea crisis and U.S. airstrikes highlight their growing regional threat, but ending Yemen’s nightmare requires addressing the Houthis’ roots, not just their rockets. As long as they prioritize power over people, Yemen’s suffering will persist.
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