Tensions between Yemen's Houthis and the U.S.-Britain coalition have sharply escalated in 2024, with observers warning that 2025 could bring even greater destruction to the region.
The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, launched a series of attacks from January onwards, targeting ships linked to Israel in a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
These actions prompted warnings from the U.S. and the UK, which eventually escalated into military operations. Despite these responses, the Houthis continued their attacks, sinking the British cargo ship Rubymar in February.
"This year has been divided into several significant phases for the Yemeni [Houthi group]. The first phase focused on the Red Sea, the second on the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, the third on the Indian Ocean, the fourth on the Mediterranean Sea, and the fifth on Jaffa and deep inside the territories occupied by the Israelis," said Rafiq al-Jund, a Yemeni military expert.
The Houthis used advanced weapons, including hypersonic missiles and unmanned boats, to attack Israeli targets, and engaged in military cooperation with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a Shiite militia group.
In July, they directly targeted Tel Aviv with a Yafa (or Jaffa) suicide drone and a Palestine 2 missile. This led Israel to launch widespread strikes on Houthi-controlled locations in Yemen, causing civilian casualties.
Rashad al-Wutairi, another Yemeni military expert, noted that the United States' actions have pushed Yemen's Houthi group to rapidly enhance its military capabilities.
"Events have proven beyond doubt that the United States looks down on nations and only understands the language of power. Its excessive use of weapons to invade nations has created an urgent need for the Yemeni [Houthi group] to rapidly and significantly enhance its capabilities. This has positioned it today as a major regional player, as evidenced by the operations carried out by the group within Israel," he said.
In August, Houthi attacks escalated by targeting the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion in the Red Sea.
In October, the group intensified its operations in parallel with the anniversary of the "Al-Aqsa Flood" (Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel). The United States responded with its heaviest strikes yet, dispatching B-2 stealth bombers for the first time to attack Houthi underground weapons facilities in Yemen.
In a recent development, the Houthis claimed to have attacked the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and its escorts with eight cruise missiles and 17 drones, also downing an F-18 fighter jet earlier this month.
As the conflict rages on between the Houthis and the U.S.-UK coalition, with Israel at the forefront, analysts predict that 2025 could see even deadlier and more intense confrontation. The Houthis are preparing for a sixth phase of escalation if a final ceasefire is not reached to end the war in Gaza and lift the blockade.
Observers warn of escalating tensions between Yemen's Houthis, US-Britain coalition
