Why the Houthis Have Sat Out Iran War—for Now
2026-03-319 view
Yemen’s Iran-allied Houthis waited a full month on the sidelines before taking a public stance on the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Finally, on March 28, the group’s spokesperson suggested that it may enter the war under certain conditions.
Even then, the group appeared to condition its involvement on that of other powers alongside the U.S. and Israel, or on anti-Iranian military operations in the Red Sea, suggesting that it was not planning to join the confrontation for now.
Several factors appear to have delayed the Houthis’ entry into the conflict. This is in contrast to the escalations of 2024 and 2025, in which the group played a prominent role and threatened maritime traffic transiting the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait at its southern entrance.
The Houthis, and by extension Iran, appear reluctant to broaden the scope of their attacks in ways that would inflict direct damage on European countries and risk dragging them into the conflict. For the time being, these countries—particularly NATO members—are showing considerable reluctance to bow to American demands to get involved. The recent Munich Security Conference revealed widening disagreements between the Trump administration and European countries.
Furthermore, Houthi attacks at this stage could provoke a response from the U.S. and regional actors, as well as providing cover for Yemeni government forces to expand their operations against the group and possibly even seize control of Yemen’s entire western coast. This would serve neither the interests of the Houthis nor Iran, which wants to preserve its influence in the country.
It may also be that the Houthis are standing back from the current escalation due to concerns over their capabilities. The group’s military and technological infrastructure suffered major blows in 2024 and 2025, and rebuilding it will take time. Accordingly, in the fighting since February 28, Iran has leaned more on its armed allies in Iraq, which have largely retained their pre-war capabilities—and which are also located closer to American and Israeli targets.
Despite all this, Houthi involvement in the war cannot be entirely ruled out. The group may respond militarily in the case of a ground invasion against Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz and seize the Islamic Republic’s uranium stockpile. It could also get involved if the military pressure on Iran grows and persists, or if international powers bolster their military presence near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
The outcome of such involvement would be uncertain. It would be costly for the group, and could lead to the collapse of the ceasefire in Yemen and a resumption of hostilities on Yemeni soil—this time with broad international support, and aimed at ending Iran’s influence in Yemen once and for all.
