The Houthi Strategy
The Houthi Strategy By Paolo Falconio When we talk about the Houthis, the mind easily conjures images of guerrillas in flip-flops. It is a misleading image, and underestimating them would be a serious mistake. Behind an apparently rudimentary structure lies a political-military actor with combat capabilities, territorial control and, above all, a long-term strategic vision that few seem willing to acknowledge. The Houthis are neither a chaotic militia nor a simple Iranian proxy. Iran provides military and technological support, but the movement possesses its own agenda, rooted in identity, tribal and political claims that run deep through decades of conflictual relations with Riyadh. From the Treaty of Ta'if in 1934 to the Saudi intervention in the Yemeni transition of 2011-2012, the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Yemen has been a long competition for security and regional influence. It is this strategic autonomy that makes the Houthis a geopolitical actor to be considered s...