Red Sea Crisis Editorial: Proxy Wars & Strategies
- Sylvia Rose
- Mar 28
- 5 min read
The Red Sea crisis begins in October 19, 2023. The Houthi movement in Yemen ignites the conflict by launching missiles and armed drones at Israel in direct response to Israel's genocidal actions in Gaza.
The Houthis, a Zaidi Shia Muslim group, launch a barrage of aerial assaults on merchant and naval vessels in the Red Sea. Despite being warned by Houthi leaders of retaliation, US gets involved.
The Red Sea is an important passage for global trade. The blockade is motivated by the attacks in Gaza, the Iran–Israel proxy war, the broader Iran–United States tensions, and the prolonged Yemeni crisis itself.
The Houthis, a Zaidi Shia Muslim group, invoke the crisis with missile and armed drone attacks aimed at Israel. This brazen move is a direct response to the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Houthis demand immediate cessation of hostilities. It doesn't happen. The Houthis' involvement quickly escalates. The group launches a barrage of aerial assaults against merchant and naval vessels on the Red Sea.
They also capture a few, one of which they return. They have taken POWs, 153 of whom they release to the Red Cross in January 2025.
Their campaign disrupts global shipping routes, forcing companies to reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope. This adds weeks to voyages and significantly increases transportation costs.
It's not as bad as the blockades in Gaza preventing food, medicine and human aid reaching the two million Palestinians crammed into a 40 km long space, and Israeli strikes targeting refugee camps and food lines.
The Red Sea blockade is felt globally, especially in the oil industry. The route handles 10% of the world’s oil supply.
The Red Sea itself has 180 rigs, with constant ingoing and outgoing vessels. The Houthis efficiently put the most pressure where it hurts.
While Iran gives them support, the Houthi leaders are scholars and strong strategists themselves. Founded by the cleric Hussein al-Houthi, the movement is now headed by his brother, Abdul-Malek al-Houthi.
The Houthis are a not disorganized mob of rebels. In areas they occupy, they establish schools and health care, garnering support from the people.
Houthis launch up to 30 strikes against Israeli targets in October 2023 alone. These are perceived not just as retaliation but as an assertion of their position in the region.
The brazen approach draws international attention to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. The humanitarian crisis is caused by funding cutoff, the civil war and other attacks.
By the end of October 2023, US airstrikes target over 40 missile launch sites as well as Houthi infrastructure in North Yemen. This attempts to send a message to Iran about its undesirable behavior.
South Yemen is a stronghold of organizations like al-Qaeda and ISIS, both acting against the Houthis. ISIS sends suicide bombers to two Houthi mosques in Sana'a, killing many civilians and wounding hundreds.
ISIS no longer has a solid presence in Yemen but is still considered an insurgency group. About 19.5 million people in Yemen, half the population, remain in need of humanitarian aid.
Unlike Israel, who bombs aid workers in Gaza, the Houthis do not stop help from reaching beleaguered citizens. Much of the humanitarian crisis comes from the US unilaterally cutting off USAID.
USAID sent billions of dollars to help citizens in crisis. Its cutoff in January 2025 causes massive suffering in many countries including Yemen.
Back in the Red Sea, Houthi attacks on ships include US and UK vessels as well as Israeli. The United States, allied with Israel and the Saudi coalition, launches hundreds of air strikes.
They allegedly target Houthi missile sites, drone launch facilities and other military infrastructure within Yemen. These strikes attempt to degrade the Houthis' ability to make attacks, and to deter further aggression.
On March 27 two civilians are killed and others injured in US attacks on a stonemasonry. Seven civilians are injured in March 28 airstrikes by US targeting Yemeni shops and homes.
The Houthis continue to demonstrate their efficiency at striking vessels in the Red Sea. About 30 have been damaged, and two (cargo) ships, one Greek and one from the UK, sunk.
As a Houthi backer, Iran supplies military and aid, intelligence and strategic guidance. Iran's motives run deep. By instigating confrontations Iran diverts attention from domestic issues and assets dominance, much as US does.
The recent missile attacks in the Red Sea are part of Iran's ongoing proxy war with Saudi Arabia, Israel and other factions. Successful strategies like the Red Sea blockade bolster Iran's power position.
According to polls, more than 70% of Americans support military aid to Israel during conflicts. While 2023 and 2024 attacks are carried out under US president Joe Biden, 2025 sees Trump in the seat of power.
He cuts a deal with Israel's leader Benjamin Netanyahu and hits Yemen hard with firepower. This is both a challenge to Houthis and a show-off of US war strength to other countries.
Netanyahu is not popular in Israel. Like the US president, who makes changes to elections laws, he removes his opponents from power so he can have it.
On a flight to the US his plane has to be rerouted. He fears arrest in Europe due to Israel's spate of war crimes in Gaza.
Gaza War: Conflict in Gaza is the primary catalyst for Houthi actions. Public outrage over attacks on civilians in Gaza help bolster support. In 2025 Israeli citizens surge into the streets to protest the Gaza war crimes and dictatorial grip of Netanyahu.
Iran-Israel Proxy Conflict: The Houthis' actions are seen as an extension of the ongoing proxy war between Iran and Israel. Iran provides the Houthis with financial, military, and intelligence support, including advanced weaponry and training. The US and the Saudi-led coalition back Israel.
Iran-United States Proxy Conflict: Support for Israel and intervention in the Red Sea draw the US into the broader Iran-United States proxy conflict. The US views Iranian support for the Houthis a direct challenge to regional stability and its own interests.
Iran-Saudi Arabia Proxy Conflict: Iran and Saudi are also in a proxy conflict over influence in the Middle East and other parts of the Muslim world. The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen includes Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan and more.
Iran and Saudi each provide varying degrees of support to opposing sides in warfare. These include the civil wars in Syria and Yemen, and other conflicts.
The Yemeni Crisis: The Red Sea crisis arises from the ongoing civil war in Yemen, ongoing for nearly a decade. Control of strategic ports and access to advanced weapons give the Houthis international influence.
