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.
However, there is a third critical and often overlooked factor: the weaponization of international engagement. Engagement without accountability strengthens rather than moderates Houthi behavior.
On September 2, 2025, the chief of mission for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) met with Houthi Foreign Ministry official Ismail al-Mutawakkil in Sanaa, four days after Israeli airstrikes killed Ahmed al-Rahawi and 12 other Houthi cabinet members in Yemen.
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, according to the Houthi outlet Saba.
Author's summary: International institutions' engagement with Houthis without accountability sustains their hold on Yemen.
More News
- Live updates: Early Yukon election results show some tight races, some comfortable leads for Yukon Party incumbent MLAs
- Live updates: Poll results begin to arrive in 2025 Yukon elections
- How the spookiness of AI continues to creep up on us - The Charger Bulletin
- Could Melatonin Be Silently Harming Your Heart?