In a recent speech, the leader of the Houthi rebel group in Yemen proudly announced his group's tally over the past year: The Houthi group, which controls much of northern Yemen, targeted 193 ships passing their country and launched more than 1,000 missiles and drones at their enemies, including Israel, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi announced yesterday. All this was in support of the Hamas group in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, he said.

Previously described as "a ragtag militia in sandals" or "farmers with guns," the Houthi group has also launched ballistic missiles at Israel and recently downed a US drone.

And, so far at least, nothing seems to have stopped the Houthis — not an international maritime task force to protect shipping in the Red Sea, or repeated aerial bombing of areas they control.

"The Houthis are stronger, more technically proficient, and more prominent members of the Axis of Resistance than they were at the war's outset," Mike Knights, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy wrote this month in an analysis.

The so-called Axis of Resistance is composed of military groups based in Gaza, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen, who are all — to one extent or another — backed by Iran and opposed to Israel and the US.

"The Houthis have arguably weathered the year of war without suffering major setbacks … and delivered the best military performance of all the Axis players," Knights explained.

As a result the Houthis are becoming more prominent members of the Axis and their leader al-Houthi is even being touted as........

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