By Abdulrahman Al-Rashed

Houthis as a Fleeting Phenomenon — The Houthis are a small minority group (less than 7% of Yemen’s population) that rose to power through opportunism during the Arab Spring. Unlike Hezbollah, they lack deep roots and broad support, making them vulnerable to eventual collapse.

Strategic Overreach — By threatening international shipping in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, the Houthis have turned themselves into a regional problem, but their military and political fragility limits their long-term viability.

Path to Resolution — The best outcome for the Houthis is political compromise and power-sharing in Yemen. Their refusal to accept this risks total defeat, especially as Iran may sacrifice them in future negotiations.

Someone asked: Why do the Saudis not resolve the situation in Yemen and put an end to the Houthi group? The truth is that, after many years of following developments in Yemen, I can say that the Houthi question is something of a rabbit hole. Whenever you think you have found the truth, you discover an additional layer of tribal, regional and political relationships and alliances.

The initial conclusion may seem simple, but it is realistic: the Houthis are a fleeting phenomenon. They are a small, armed, tribal, ideological and extremist group. All comparable historical cases suggest that it will not endure. The Houthis make up less than 7 percent of Yemen’s population, yet they have succeeded in weaving broad........

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