Yemen : U.S. House Holds Hearing on Houthi Threats to Regional , International Security

Washington — The Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee convened a special hearing Tuesday titled “Confronting Houthi Terrorism: Protecting U.S. Interests and Security in the Red Sea.”

The session, held at the U.S. Capitol, focused on the growing risks posed by Yemen’s Houthi movement to international shipping and American interests in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Bab al-Mandab Strait. Lawmakers and experts discussed potential strategies for the United States and its partners to counter these threats.

Yemeni researcher Nadwa al-Dawsari, a fellow at the Middle East Institute, and Allison Minor, Director of the Middle East Integration Project at the Atlantic Council, provided testimony assessing the nature of the Houthi threat and the complexities of the Yemeni and regional landscape.

The hearing underscored the increasing strategic importance of southern Yemen’s geography and security forces in safeguarding global maritime routes. Analysts noted that any serious international strategy must go beyond air and naval operations, requiring genuine partnerships with local forces capable of securing coastlines, ports, and disrupting smuggling networks that supply the Houthis with weapons.

Southern forces including military units, security brigades, and coastal defense formations were highlighted as essential actors in maintaining stability on the ground. The discussion also reflected a broader U.S. debate on the Red Sea, emphasizing the need to engage directly with effective local partners rather than relying solely on traditional political frameworks.