Iran Withdraws Support from Houthis Amid Intensified US Airstrikes

[Social Media]

 

Title: Iran Withdraws Support from Houthis Amid Intensified US Airstrikes

 

Iran has begun withdrawing its military personnel from Yemen, signaling a sharp shift in strategy as the United States increases its airstrikes against the Houthi rebel group. The move marks a significant turning point in Iran’s longstanding support for regional proxy groups, driven by Tehran’s desire to avoid a direct military clash with the United States.

 

 

A senior Iranian official revealed that the decision was primarily motivated by concerns over the possibility of Iranian soldiers being killed during US attacks. “Every meeting is dominated by discussions about [Trump], and none of the regional groups we previously supported are being discussed,” the source said. Iran is reportedly narrowing its focus to deal directly with what it perceives as the more pressing threat from Washington, especially in light of the growing assertiveness of former US President Donald Trump.

 

 

Since leaked group chat messages from Trump’s inner circle exposed the planning of the strikes, the US military has launched near-daily attacks targeting the Houthis. These airstrikes, described by Trump as “unbelievably successful,” have decimated key military infrastructure and eliminated several Houthi commanders. The Pentagon has remained tight-lipped about specific operations but confirmed that additional aircraft are being deployed to the region. The 124th Fighter Wing recently announced the dispatch of multiple A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and 300 personnel to bolster operations in the Middle East.

 

 

Meanwhile, a Russian military advisor based in Sanaa is reportedly assisting the Houthis in refining their offensive tactics while steering them away from targeting Saudi Arabia. Riyadh, which has been engaged in the Yemeni civil war since 2015, continues to host US-Russian talks aimed at resolving the war in Ukraine.

 

 

In the Red Sea, the Houthis claim to have launched attacks on US naval vessels, including the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. While no hits have been confirmed, the US Navy characterized the intensity of Houthi fire as the most severe since World War II. The USS Carl Vinson, another carrier currently stationed in Asia, is en route to the region to support these operations.

 

Donald Trump on X: These Houthis gathered for instructions on an attack. Oops, there will be no attack by these Houthis! They will never sink our ships again!

These Houthis gathered for instructions on an attack. Oops, there will be no attack by these Houthis!

They will never sink our ships again! pic.twitter.com/lEzfyDgWP5

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 4, 2025

 

The Iranian regime appears to be re-evaluating its regional priorities. “The view here is that the Houthis will not be able to survive and are living their final months or even days, so there is no point in keeping them on our list,” the Iranian source added. “They were part of a chain that relied on Nasrallah and Assad, and keeping only one part of that chain for the future makes no sense.”

 

Trump’s administration has made no secret of its intent to pressure Iran back to the negotiating table over its nuclear program. The recent deployment of B-2 stealth bombers to the Diego Garcia base underscores Washington’s more aggressive stance. “The strikes are connected to the maximum pressure campaign that he has endorsed,” said Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House. “He wants to simultaneously send a message to Iran and to the axis of resistance that his administration is going to take a bolder approach to destabilising regional activities.”

 

Mahmoud Shehrah, a former Yemeni diplomat now with Chatham House, observed a dramatic shift from the Biden-era “defensive strategy” toward more assertive US military action. Speaking from Amman, he said: “The previous miscalculation about the Houthis in the US had made Trump carry heavier strikes against them now and [the US] have started to target individuals and key actors of them.”

 

Shehrah also noted that the Houthis now possess advanced weaponry, surpassing other Iranian-backed groups in capability. “After the collapse of Hezbollah and Assad’s regime, the Houthis are now on the front line,” he said. “They get missiles and drones from Iran and rebrand them with Houthi names because they don’t want to show they have links with Iran because of domestic propaganda.”

 

Israel’s successes against Hezbollah and Hamas have further eroded Iran’s regional influence. Analysts believe Tehran’s failed missile response to Israel last year weakened its deterrence credibility and demoralized its allies. In Syria, Bashar al-Assad’s fall to rebel forces in December dealt another major blow to Iran’s proxy network.

 

With Hezbollah’s reach diminished, the Houthis have stepped up as Iran’s most active remaining proxy. Since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, the Houthis have expanded their missile and drone capabilities and taken a more prominent public role. They exert control over Sanaa, manage finances, smuggle contraband, and disrupt global shipping routes. Yemen’s rugged terrain allows them to hide their weapon stockpiles in caves, much like fighters in Afghanistan.

 

“They are not experienced like Hezbollah but are more aggressive and more dangerous at the same time,” said Shehrah. “Abdul Malik al-Houthi has an ambition of leading the axis of resistance. Yemeni streets are full of anger – the Houthis are not paying salaries and have absolute taxation with zero representation, so the social base for the Houthis is not very strong, that’s why they rely on the Gaza war.”

 

With Iran stepping back and the US stepping up, the future of the Houthis looks increasingly uncertain.

 

Based on a report by The Telegraph  2025-04-05

 

Related Topic:

US deploys “overwhelming lethal force” against Houthis in Yemen

 

 

[KhunLA]

President Trump ... winning again 👍

[FlorC]

With friends like that , who needs enemies ?

[PomPolo]

7 hours ago, Social Media said:

especially in light of the growing assertiveness of former US President Donald Trump

Again I wish

[AustinRacing]

You can tell it’s a propaganda article with little merit.