By: Yemen Online – in cooperation with AIJES International

Aden - As Houthi escalation in the Red Sea continues and U.S. airstrikes target the group's positions in Yemen, pressing questions arise about the effectiveness of these operations and their actual capacity to deter growing threats to international maritime navigation and regional stability.

In this context, Yemen Online, in partnership with AIJES International, conducted a special field survey involving a number of Yemeni activists and journalists to gather insights on the evolving military confrontation and the strategic priorities in the battle against the Houthis.

Ongoing Threats... and Limited Effectiveness of Airstrikes

All participants in the survey agreed that U.S. airstrikes, so far, have proven insufficient to eliminate the Houthi threat. They emphasized that the armed group has demonstrated its ability to rapidly rearm and continue launching attacks in the Red Sea—especially by using the port of Hodeidah as a hub for smuggling Iranian weapons and launching missiles and drones.

Speakers noted that airstrikes alone—regardless of their precision—will not decisively end the conflict or deter the Houthis in the long term, unless accompanied by a coordinated ground offensive by well-equipped, politically supported Yemeni national forces, especially those familiar with the terrain in strategic locations like Hodeidah. Participants stressed the importance of leveraging the capabilities of the Tihama Resistance and Western Coast Joint Forces.

Hodeidah: The Most Dangerous Outlet and the Gateway to Sanaa: 

Survey participants unanimously identified Hodeidah as the most strategically significant target in the next phase, given its central role in the Houthi military project. As the group’s main maritime outlet, it serves as a vital channel for receiving support, launching attacks at sea, and maintaining control of the western coast.

- Abdulmajeed Zubah (Journalist – Hodeidah):

“While the U.S. had a hesitant stance toward the Houthis under the Biden administration, it has now adopted a more assertive approach under Trump, aiming to safeguard global trade flows. Yet, despite recent airstrikes, the fundamental question remains: Can these alone eliminate the Houthi threat, or is a more effective strategy needed?”

He added, “The Houthis are quickly rearming via Tihama’sports. Securing the Red Sea is impossible without ground forces to dismantle their influence. This is where national resistance in Tihama and the forces that helped liberate Mokhaand parts of the western coast become essential. These forces are capable of changing realities on the ground and dismantling the threat at its root.”

- Mohammed Taleb Zyoud (Actor & Journalist from Hodeidah):

He noted that the Houthis “have no remaining tools but threatening neighboring countries, which reflects their military and security bankruptcy.”

He continued, “The Yemeni government has failed to seize this favorable regional and international moment to make real military gains. We support U.S. airstrikes, but real results require a joint effort between air power and ground forces.”

- Hassan Dabwan (Human Rights Activist – Taiz):

He warned that “airstrikes may result in civilian casualties, as many Houthi leaders hide in densely populated civilian areas.”

Dabwan emphasized, “A coordinated ground offensive backed by air power could yield better results, particularly if national forces are supported—forces that nearly liberated Hodeidah in 2018, if not for the Stockholm Agreement, which returned the city to Houthi control.”

- Mahmoud Rashad (Activist – Aden):

He praised the southern resistance’s success in pushing back the Houthis, stating, “The South managed to liberate its territory within months in 2015, while most northern areas remained under militia control. Some, like Al-Jawf and parts of Marib, were even handed over without resistance.”

He noted that this success stemmed from effective coordination on the ground, direct air support from the Arab Coalition(led by the UAE and Saudi Arabia), and cooperation with the National Resistance forces. In contrast, he said, “Forces affiliated with the Yemeni government in Marib and Taiz weakened due to the influence of political Islam groups—especially the Muslim Brotherhood—which infiltrated state institutions and attempted to redirect Coalition support to rebuild their own military capabilities lost during the 2014 Houthi offensive, prompting many of their leaders to flee the country.”

- Yazan Nasr (Journalist – Yafa’a):

Nasr remarked that six years of Arab Coalition airstrikes were insufficient to end the Houthi threat, adding that the group took advantage of President Hadi’s weak leadership and political agreements like the Stockholm Accord to secure strategic positions without a fight.

He stressed, “The solution now lies in launching a ground offensive supported by airpower to liberate the port of Hodeidah, which is the Houthis’ main artery for funding, arming, and posing threats to the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab.”

- Mohammed Al-Jalal (Activist – Marib):

He stated clearly: “Hodeidah is not just a coastal city—it is the gateway to Sanaa. Its liberation would pave the way for dismantling the Houthi project altogether. Airstrikes without ground forces will not deliver the necessary impact.”

Conclusion: Hodeidah First... and Ground Forces Hold the Key

This field survey confirms that air power alone cannot win the battle against the Houthis. Participants overwhelmingly support a dual military strategy that combines precise airstrikes with effective, well-supported ground operations by national Yemeni forces.

They called for returning Hodeidah to the forefront of military planning, as liberating the city would be a strategic turning point, cutting off the Houthis' arms smuggling routes and weakening their grip on the coast—ultimately clearing the path toward the liberation of Sanaa.

They further stressed the need to empower existing national forces—particularly the Tihama Resistance and Western Coast Forces and to provide political, military, and media support so they can lead the effort to restore stability and safeguard the Red Sea.

Key Recommendations from Participants:

• Shift international support from airstrikes alone to a tactical partnership with Yemeni ground forces.

• Reevaluate the Stockholm Agreement, which allowed the Houthis to retain control of Hodeidah despite military advances in 2018.

• Prioritize Hodeidah in strategic and military planning due to its central role in the Houthi project.

• Enable local forces with logistical and intelligence support to cut Houthi supply lines.