Houthis Expand Influence Across Gulf of Aden and Red Sea, Building Strategic Alliances and Supply Networks
The Houthis are actively expanding their influence across the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, establishing new connections between conflicts in Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, and Eritrea. This expansion involves cultivating relationships with armed groups, marginalized communities, and smuggling networks in the Horn of Africa. Research, based on approximately 100 interviews, documentary and interdiction records, satellite imagery, vessel tracking, and telephone data, indicates that these initiatives, initially opportunistic, are evolving into a more strategic project. The Houthis aim to become a central hub in the broader 'Axis of Resistance' by fostering partnerships and sharing training, technology, and supply networks. This strategy is designed to enhance the resilience of Houthi supply chains, strengthen armed groups, and further intertwine conflicts within the already volatile region.
