The Legitimacy Trap: How International Institutions Sustain the Houthis' Hold on Yemen
For years, the prevailing assumption was that the Houthis' survival depended on battlefield victories and Iranian support.
Both are essential, but there is a third critical and often overlooked factor: the weaponization of international engagement.
In a pattern that continues to repeat itself, engagement without accountability strengthens rather than moderates Houthi behavior.
On September 2, 2025, four days after Israeli airstrikes killed Ahmed al-Rahawi and 12 other Houthi cabinet members in Yemen, the chief of mission for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) met with Houthi Foreign Ministry official Ismail al-Mutawakkil in Sanaa.
According to the Houthi outlet Saba, she 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.
Author's summary: International engagement can strengthen Houthi behavior.
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