By Faisal Abu Bakr | 2026-03-08

The Houthis' announcement to renew missile and naval strikes against international shipping and Israel is a clear execution of the proxy role dictated by Iranian regime.

This coincides with field reinforcements and the exploitation of regional tensions to justify naval strikes, analysts said.

Combining ground attacks and a naval blockade, the dual strategy aims to exert regional pressure and threaten global trade in service of Iran's agenda.

Despite the lack of an official announcement, Houthi officials announced a resumption of hostilities, framing it as a retaliation against the US-Israeli campaign Operation Epic Fury.

On February 28, two senior Houthi officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the group decided to resume missile and drone attacks on shipping routes and Israel.

"The Houthi announcement to resume attacks on the Red Sea and Israel immediately reshuffles regional dynamics, fueling instability and posing a critical threat to Middle Eastern security and global interests," political analyst Faisal Ahmed told Al-Fassel.

As mandated by Iranian regime, the Houthi militia's fundamental role is to act as a forward defense for the regime and to advance its interests.

"Participation in military operations in the Red Sea and against Israel fulfills the militia's core missions, advances Iran's strategic agenda, and serves to alleviate international pressure on Tehran," political analyst Waddah Al-Jalil told Al-Fassel.

The regime cultivated the operational roles of its regional military proxies, including the Houthis, through years of consistent and substantial funding, training, and arming.

Expanding the scope of confrontation

The Houthis’ expanded military operations will broaden the geographic scope of confrontations across the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

"The Iranian regime actively exploits its influence to exhaust the resources of countries hosting its military proxies, deliberately expanding the conflict's scope to sow confusion among regional and international powers," al-Jalil said.

"This involves destabilizing Yemen internally with ground mobilization towards the strategic Marib province and escalating external tensions by deploying forces toward the Red Sea," he added.

Undermining peace efforts

Resumed Houthi attacks on shipping and Israel undermines peace efforts for military escalation, exploiting regional tensions to justify naval strikes.

"This dual strategy now actively combines ground assaults with a naval blockade, a calculated action to maximize regional pressure and directly threaten global trade in support of Tehran's agenda," Ahmed said.

Al-Jalil asserts the Houthi group weaponizes regional tension to deliberately obstruct peace requirements.

"This was evident in late 2023 when, presented with the Yemen peace roadmap, they immediately pivoted to escalating attacks in the Red Sea and against Israel."

Houthi's recent vow to resume naval attacks constitutes a calculated evasion of the peace process and strategically undermining all prospects for lasting solution in Yemen.