The Legitimacy Trap: International Institutions and the Houthis' Hold on Yemen
For years, the prevailing assumption was that the Houthis' survival depended on battlefield victories and Iranian support.
However, there is a third critical factor: the weaponization of international engagement. Engagement without accountability strengthens rather than moderates Houthi behavior.
A recent example of this pattern is the meeting between the chief of mission for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Houthi Foreign Ministry official Ismail al-Mutawakkil in Sanaa on September 2, 2025.
The ICRC chief offered condolences for the “crime committed by the Zionist entity,” expressed “solidarity” with Yemen, and promised the ICRC’s plans to provide assistance were unchanged.
This incident occurred four days after Israeli airstrikes killed Ahmed al-Rahawi and 12 other Houthi cabinet members in Yemen.
Author's summary: International engagement can legitimize the Houthis' hold on Yemen.
- Battlefield victories
- Iranian support
- Weaponization of international engagement
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