With the entry of the new year, the situation of the Houthis as an organization became worse, especially after Hamas and Israel signed a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

Less than a year and a half after the Houthis entered the international arena, firing intermittent missiles, which posed a major challenge to Israel, the strategic options before the militias have become much worse than they were in October 2023.

The National Interest website says that the Houthi militias constantly seek friction with external parties to demonize them and then portray themselves as the “defender” of the country.

As the “last standing” against Israel within what is known as the “Axis of Resistance,” attacks against Israel have earned the Houthis a standing with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and some anti-Israel factions.

At the strategic level, the Houthis were at their peak from 2022 to 2023. During this period, the group had to accept the generous peace offer made by Saudi Arabia, but they chose to delay signing the deal that has not yet come to light. Today, 15 months after the October 7 attacks, the Houthis’ conditions have worsened significantly.

The militias hoped that the agreement would bring in the billions of dollars they needed in light of their weak ability to collect taxes as well as the deterioration of the local economy, while on the other hand, the legitimate forces gained new momentum.

Some reports, such as that of the UN Panel of Experts, indicate that the Houthis may seek to continue piracy in the Red Sea by imposing safe passage fees on shipping companies seeking to send ships through Bab al-Mandab, amounting to up to $180 million per month.

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The efforts come after the American and Israeli attacks on the Houthis caused losses in their oil reserves and other valuable assets that they had in their possession before they were targeted.

The American website expected that the Houthis will spend the next few months testing different options. Including continuing attacks on Israel, but it is likely that they will face great resistance on all fronts, forcing them to choose between the best and the bad options.

Al Ain Emirati newspaper