Houthis gain strategic weight as Iran’s regional network shifts

Recent Houthi territorial gains and attacks have increased the group’s importance within Iran’s so-called axis of resistance, while Hezbollah has come under pressure. Analysts cited by DW say the Houthis offer Tehran leverage over Saudi Arabia, Israel and vital shipping routes, although their autonomy limits Iran’s control.

The Houthi movement’s latest gains in Yemen have elevated its position within Iran’s network of allied armed groups, according to analysts cited by DW. The group has taken further control of parts of Yemen’s coast and several Red Sea islands, developments that could give it greater influence over a major route for energy exports and international trade.

The Houthis are part of the “axis of resistance,” a term used for Iran-backed groups including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and Shiite paramilitary factions in Iraq. After the United States and Israel began attacking Iran in late February 2026, members of the network targeted sites associated with Washington or Israel. The Houthis had initially remained largely on the sidelines, but their latest campaign has changed perceptions of their role.

The Institute for the Study of War, a US-based research organization, said the Houthi advances created conditions for an axis-controlled body of water and could support efforts to influence regional oil exports. The Red Sea is particularly significant because Iran and the United States are also contesting control of the Strait of Hormuz, another crucial passage for oil and trade.

Iranian hardline newspapers praised the Houthi gains. Kayhan, one of the country’s most conservative publications, said the advances had increased the importance of Sanaa, Yemen’s capital and the seat of Houthi power, within the regional conflict. Supporters of Iran’s government also chanted slogans praising Yemen at gatherings held across the country.

Several analysts told DW that the Houthis may now be more strategically valuable to Tehran than Hezbollah. Farea al-Muslimi of Chatham House said the group had exceeded Hezbollah’s capabilities, while King’s College London lecturer Andreas Krieg said the Houthis provided Iran leverage over Saudi Arabia, Israel and global shipping. Hezbollah, by contrast, has been weakened by Israeli attacks and the loss of its base in Syria.

The extent of Iranian control remains disputed. Krieg said the Houthis possess their own leadership, ideology, domestic support base and territorial ambitions, meaning Tehran can assist them but may not be able to direct their actions. DW also reported that Houthi media emphasized the movement’s conflict with Saudi Arabia, while Iranian outlets presented its gains as a victory for Iran’s wider alliance. Nevertheless, analysts cited by DW said the Houthis have become increasingly aligned with Tehran and will be difficult to restrain after years of surviving military pressure and economic sanctions.