Washington, D.C. – On November 21, 2024, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated that the Houthi group, classified as a terrorist organization, perceives itself as increasingly independent from Iran. He reaffirmed the United States' commitment to weakening the capabilities of the Houthis, whom he described as "extremists."

Austin's remarks were reported by the shipping news site "Trade Winds," following the first anniversary of the Houthis' significant attack on shipping, specifically referencing the hijacking of the cargo vessel "Galaxy Leader." The Secretary's comments came in response to a question about whether Iran's weakened position—possibly due to recent Israeli airstrikes against its missile defense systems—could create an opportunity for U.S. attacks against the Houthis.

He noted that while the group historically viewed itself as aligned with Tehran, they are increasingly seeing themselves as partners rather than subordinates. "They will make their own decisions," Austin stated.

According to the Defense Secretary, the Houthis have shown resilience despite multiple strikes by the U.S. and its allies against targets in Yemen. He emphasized that the U.S. will continue efforts to diminish their ability to launch attacks and insisted that the Houthis must be held accountable for their "illegal and dangerous" actions.

Experts have long noted that while Tehran supports various armed groups in the Middle East and Africa, the Houthis are distinct due to their ambition to establish an Islamic caliphate—an objective that may eventually conflict with Iran's interests.

In a recent discussion, Gulf analyst Juleid Ahmed highlighted that the Houthis aspire to project themselves as "the caliphate" globally, striving to establish a caliphate within the Arab world. He explained that while they currently collaborate with Iran, they also aim to develop their unique identity.

The revenue generated from the network of Houthi financier Saeed Al-Jamal—including Iranian oil sales to China, ransom payments from shipping companies, and mining operations in Somalia—supports the Houthis in pursuing this goal. "Accumulating capital gives them more power, and they could become another Iran if not stopped," Ahmed warned.