Why the Houthis are Holding Back — For Now

Despite claiming they are poised to attack, the Yemeni Houthis have yet to join Iran and its other proxies in their fight against the United States and Israel. Hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj speak to MEI Associate Fellow Nadwa Al-Dawsari to unpack why the Houthis continue to stay on the sidelines of the Iran war and what might prompt them to join the fray. They also discuss the Houthis' evolving role within the Axis of Resistance, what the Yemeni group has learned from its earlier rounds of direct conflict with Israel and the US, as well as whether its actions could precipitate a renewed flareup in Yemen's civil war. Find Nadwa's analysis of why the Houthis have stayed out of the Iran war here . Recorded on March 17, 2026.

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Why the Houthis are Holding Back — For Now is an episode from Middle East Focus by Middle East Institute.

This episode is 39:41 long.

This episode was published on Mar 19, 2026.

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