A report by the Washington Post on November 4, 2024, highlights how the Houthi movement, designated as a terrorist organization, has capitalized on the United States' backing of Israel during its military actions in Gaza.

The article discusses recent US efforts in the Middle East, particularly in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, to garner condemnation against the Houthis, who have been launching attacks in the Red Sea. Despite causing economic damage across the region, Arab leaders are reluctant to be seen siding with the US and Israel.

The report notes that the US has left some Arab nations feeling like unreliable partners, leading them to strengthen ties with Iran while seeing little benefit in provoking its proxies. The credibility of the US in the region has further diminished due to its unwavering support for Israel over the past year, during which tens of thousands of Palestinians have died, with distressing images of suffering children circulating in the media.

California Congressman Ro Khanna, who recently returned from a trip to Saudi Arabia, remarked on the omnipresence of the ongoing war in media coverage, stating, “You turn on the television, and you find the war. It’s everywhere—the bombings, the suffering.”

While no major country recognizes the Houthi government, the group has effectively utilized a sophisticated media campaign to enhance its operations in the Red Sea and launch missiles at Israel, portraying itself as a defender of the Palestinian cause, despite the Biden administration's designation of the militants as terrorists.

Timothy Lenderking, the US Special Envoy to Yemen, has urged Arab partners, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, to intensify their efforts in dealing with the Houthis, emphasizing a unified front against their aggressive actions.

The article explains that Washington's Arab allies need to counter the Houthi narrative while acknowledging that the group's attacks on vital shipping routes have harmed economies and exacerbated global inflation. For instance, traffic through the Suez Canal has significantly decreased, costing the Egyptian government at least $2 billion in lost revenue, thus increasing pressures on impoverished communities in Egypt.

Furthermore, the Houthi campaign has hindered humanitarian aid to Yemen, where millions face acute malnutrition, according to the World Bank and other international organizations.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have continued their missile and drone assaults on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, driving up marine insurance costs and pushing shipping companies to favor longer routes around the southern tip of Africa.

In response, the US formed a multinational coalition in December 2023 to deter Houthi actions and protect maritime navigation, while US forces have periodically targeted Houthi military assets. However, the internationally recognized Yemeni government argues that Western strikes have been ineffective in neutralizing Houthi threats and that supporting its armed forces is the most effective solution to reclaim the port city of Hudaydah and other territories controlled by the group.