Frome the lined article:
While undoubtedly an effective fighting force, the Houthis have been markedly less effective at governance. They were struggling to provide basic services to the civilian population in the areas they control and were failing to contain infighting from opposition groups. Never exactly liberal pluralists, their rule was becoming increasingly repressive, including targeted assassinations, an extensive surveillance state, and Taliban-like restrictions on women’s rights.
The war in Gaza, therefore, couldn’t have come at a better time.
“War is good for them,” Johnsen said. “The Palestinian cause ... is incredibly popular all over Yemen. Just by doing what they’re doing, the Houthis can take advantage of a rally-round-the-flag effect and expand their pool of potential recruits within Yemen.” According to one report from the Washington Institute on Near East Policy, the Houthis have attracted 16,000 recruits to their ranks since the war in Gaza began.
The Houthis attacked an American ship but also an Italian warship (which disrupted their drone).
This is an incredible situation to understand, where all the superpowers in the world are kept at ransom by a bunch of warriors organized in a medieval society. Europe, America, China, all are being heavily damaged presently by these warmongering people.
