The Inside Story Podcast Will the Houthis join Iran in its war against the US and Israel?
Mar 21, 2026
Rockford Weitz, maritime security expert on shipping chokepoints; Khaled Batarfi, analyst of Saudi foreign policy; Farea al-Muslimi, Yemen and regional dynamics researcher. They explore Houthi control of Bab al-Mandeb and asymmetric naval threats. They discuss why Houthis may hesitate to escalate, recent US strikes and impacts on insurance, rerouting and global trade.
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Houthis Hold Key Choke Point Power
- The Houthis controlling Bab al-Mandeb can severely disrupt regional trade and Saudi oil exports that pass through the Red Sea.
- Khaled Batarfi warned past Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping made transit costly and could cut off Saudi routes via Yanbu and Bab al-Mandeb.
Houthis Choosing Strategic Restraint
- The Houthis have so far practiced strategic patience driven by domestic narrative, economic incentives, and degraded military capacity after US strikes.
- Farea al-Muslimi stressed they avoid appearing as Iran's proxy and may wait for a Saudi roadmap offering economic gains.
Geography Makes Asymmetric Disruption Effective
- Houthi geography enables asymmetric attacks that can disrupt shipping and force rerouting around Africa, raising oil and trade costs.
- Rockford Weitz noted impacts range from regional (Saudi, Egypt) to global via higher oil prices and longer routes.