The United States and the United Kingdom seek to stop the Houthi smuggling networks in Yemen
- The United States and the Houthis
- International support for the Yemeni Coast Guard
- Inspection of vessels in the Red Sea
- Instability in the Red Sea
- Relations between the Houthis and Russia
After Donald Trump designated the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organisation, both the United States and its allies are stepping up efforts to stop Iranian arms from being sent to the rebels in Yemen. The imposition of maximum pressure sanctions policies against Iran is primarily aimed at attacking the financial networks and arms that come from this country.
The State Department Executive Order states: ‘It is the policy of the United States to work with regional partners to degrade the capabilities and operations of the Houthis, deny them resources, and thereby end their attacks against US personnel and civilians, US partners, and ships sailing in the Red Sea’.
These objectives coincide with the Yemen Maritime Security Alliance, launched by the United Kingdom in November 2024 to support the Yemeni Coast Guard and backed by the United States.
The United States and the Houthis
These measures make it clear that the US is focused on disrupting the rebels' arms supply chains, but they also suggest that the White House is keeping the political door open to the possibility of a stronger military commitment against the Iranian-backed group.
Furthermore, a maritime partnership between the US and British governments, together with allied forces in southern Yemen, could be the first step in limiting the growing offensive capabilities of armed groups in the Red Sea region.
On the other hand, this would help Yemeni institutions to regain sovereignty within the country and weaken the emerging arms-based cooperation between the Houthis, Al-Shabaab and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, preventing Russia from developing revolutionary military relations with the rebels.
Currently, the main international and regional actors agree on the global threat posed by the areas controlled by the Houthis. Thus, if the Yemeni forces obtain greater support from the United States to stop the rebels' smuggling networks, both the Yemeni government and the allied forces in the southern and southwestern regions will be better able to re-establish an institutional presence in the country.
International support for the Yemeni Coast Guard
The US-led Combined Maritime Forces have already seized several dhows (Arab sailing boats) carrying weapons for the Houthis in international waters, and it is believed that the Yemeni Coast Guard can effectively complement these efforts within Yemeni territorial waters.
In this way, the Yemeni Maritime Security Association, backed by the United States, will receive ships, training and assistance from the United Kingdom, which will be handed over to the Yemeni Coast Guard to protect the coast and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. In addition, the United Kingdom will also fund training programmes for the Coast Guard through the Yemen Technical Assistance Fund.
This assistance comes in response to a request made last November at the Mediterranean Dialogues in Rome by Shaye Mohsen Al-Zindania, Yemeni Minister of Foreign Affairs, who explicitly asked the United States and its international partners to strengthen the capabilities of the Yemeni military and security forces, especially the Coast Guard.
The impact of these assistance measures has already begun to be seen in recent months, in which the Yemeni Coast Guard has intensified its operations to intercept weapons imported from Iran for the Houthis.
One of the latest operations took place on 13 February, when the Guard intercepted a cargo ship in the port of Hodeidah carrying a large quantity of weapons that had left Djibouti bound for the rebel-held port of Salif.
Inspection of vessels in the Red Sea
Since the national truce in Yemen in 2022, the routes have been partially modified. The truce stipulated a ceasefire agreement between the Government of Yemen and the Houthi rebels, with the mediation of the United Nations.
Although the truce is no longer in force, the United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism, in compliance with the arms embargo, continues to inspect ships arriving in Hodeidah to prevent the transfer of arms and ammunition to the rebels. However, the number of vessels is now much higher, making these inspections less accurate.
For this reason, a more organised and stronger presence by the Yemeni Coast Guard in the Arabian Sea would contribute to increasing Yemen's effectiveness in the fight against arms smuggling in its territorial waters.
Instability in the Red Sea
The growing instability in the Red Sea region, as non-state armed groups develop ever greater offensive capabilities, makes the task of curbing arms smuggling increasingly urgent for the United States and its regional allies.
This has been the case since 2023: the rebels' attacks on ships and on Israel have allowed the group to increase its visibility and influence, as well as forming new alliances in the region. Although Iran's weapons are a key point for these tactical alliances, the Houthis use them to form a financing, supply and support network independent of Tehran.
According to the United Nations, the Houthi rebels in Yemen have managed to establish an ‘opportunistic alliance’ with al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, who are providing the terrorist group with drones.
Relations between the Houthis and Russia
According to various media reports, the rebel group is negotiating with Moscow to provide them with weapons as part of the Russian-Iranian strategic partnership. Therefore, the presence of the United States to prevent arms smuggling on the coasts of Yemen could reduce the risk of increased military ties between the Houthis and Russia.
Likewise, Russian military intelligence personnel have already been seen in rebel-controlled areas of the country and Russia is said to have recruited Yemenis through Houthi intermediaries to join the battlefield in Ukraine. The latter could change, due to Trump's talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on the peace process in Ukraine.
The Speaker of the Legislative Council, Rashid Al-Alimi, stated at the Munich Security Conference a few weeks ago that the Yemeni government must be empowered to exercise full control over its territory and that this can only be achieved with international support and the adoption of measures to prevent the flow of Iranian weapons to Yemen.
As Trump organises his government policy on Yemen, it is clear that blocking the Houthis' arms routes is a key part of President Trump's strategy, and that US partners in Yemen are eager to play an active role.