USS Mason (DDG-87)

January 26, 2024 | |

10 Things to Know About the Houthis

The Houthis are an Iran-backed, Shiite Islamist movement that seized control of Yemen’s capital in 2014 and instigated civil war. Driven by an explicitly antisemitic and anti-American ethos, the Houthis...

December 18, 2023 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Israel faces Hezbollah threat as US Secretary of Defense arrives

After an Israeli reservist soldier was killed on December 16 by a Hezbollah drone along the northern border, Iran-backed Hezbollah launched several more attacks on Israel on December 18 as US Secretary...

December 17, 2023 | Seth J. Frantzman |

What would a maritime security force mean for the Red Sea?

The Iran-backed Houthi attacks have only escalated in the past week by firing on Eilat, having begun in October to match the Hamas massacre.

December 12, 2023 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Israel uncovers more weapons and terrorist infrastructure in Gaza

The IDF said that the Israeli air force “struck a number of launch posts used to fire rockets at Israelis across the country from inside the Gaza Strip. IDF troops in Jabalya identified a post launching...

December 10, 2023 | |

Houthis Escalate Threats to Target all Ships Bound for Israel in Red Sea

The Iran-backed Houthis threatened on December 9 to target all ships heading to Israel via the Red Sea. “If Gaza does not receive the food and medicine it needs, all ships in the...

November 30, 2023 | Joe Truzman, Bill Roggio

U.S. destroyer shoots down Iranian-built drone over the Red Sea

The USS Carney, a U.S. warship that has been at the center of several engagements with the Houthis, has shot down an Iranian-built drone over the Red Sea on Nov. 29. While Iran’s proxies in...

November 30, 2023 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Terror attacks amid continued ‘pause’ in Gaza fighting

On the morning of Thursday, November 30, two terrorists attacked a bus stop at the entrance to Jerusalem, killing three Israelis and wounding several others. The two terrorists, brothers from...

November 30, 2023 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iran-backed Houthis claim Red Sea only safe if Gaza war ends

The Houthi slogan is “death to America, death to Israel, curse the Jews,” suggesting that attacks against Israel aren't a new policy, but an escalation.

November 29, 2023 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Houthis slam G7, say hijacked ship linked to war

The Houthis also used drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles to threaten Eilat and areas around the Red Sea.

November 27, 2023 | Joe Truzman, Bill Roggio

Houthis launch anti-ship ballistic missiles at U.S. warship

The Iranian-backed Houthis, which controls large areas in Yemen, launched anti-ship ballistic missiles at a U.S. warship responding to a hijacking of a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Aden on...

November 27, 2023 | Seth J. Frantzman |

US: Houthis’ maritime attacks put international shipping at risk

It is unclear if the Houthis intended to send a message while purposely missing their target or if the missiles were inaccurate.

November 17, 2023 | Bradley Bowman, Bill Roggio

International Maritime Security Construct issues warning as Houthis threaten commercial shipping

The International Maritime Security Construct issued a warning for vessels traveling thru the vital Bab al Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea just two days after the Houthis threatened to attack international...

September 20, 2022 | |

A New Iran Deal Would Empower the Houthis

Iran would receive approximately $275 billion in sanctions relief during the first year of a new nuclear deal and more than $1 trillion by 2030, according to an FDD assessment. If past is prologue, a significant portion of these funds would flow to Iran’s network of terror proxy groups, including the Houthis in Yemen.

February 22, 2022 | Bradley Bowman, Joe Truzman, Ryan Brobst

To Stop Iran’s Proxy Terrorists, Stop Iran

The U.S., Israel, Saudi Arabia, and UAE must do more to stop Tehran together.

March 4, 2021 | Bradley Bowman, Katherine Zimmerman

Biden Can’t Bring Peace to Yemen While Iran Keeps Sending Weapons

The latest round of U.S. diplomacy will fail without additional leverage.

January 4, 2017 | Behnam Ben Taleblu |

Iran’s Maritime Mirage

Iran is doing enough damage in the Middle East through unconventional methods without requiring a robust navy. That is why an idea floated by a key Iranian military leader to build naval bases in...

October 24, 2016 | John Hannah

Hostile nations are taking advantage of Obama’s final days

Why would an Iranian proxy in Yemen provoke a fight with America? There was almost most universal puzzlement among several Middle Eastern diplomats I talked to in the last few days. They...