Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
Al-Mokha Center for Strategic Studies (a Yemeni research center) has released a new assessment of the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration policies on the course of the conflict in Yemen.
The report indicated that the decision to designate the Houthi group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization falls within a broader U.S. strategy aimed at tightening economic and political restrictions on the Houthis.
The report highlighted that the decision, which came into effect on March 5, 2025, is part of a wider US strategy to constrict the Houthis by targeting their financial sources, including banking and commercial institutions.
Additionally, sanctions were imposed on seven Houthi leaders accused of involvement in arms smuggling and cooperation with Russia, reflecting a significant escalation in U.S. actions against the group.
The report emphasized that Trump’s return to the White House represents a major shift in U.S. policy toward Yemen, with expectations of a stricter approach, including enhanced coordination with regional allies such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE to counter Houthi threats.
The report explained that these policies could contribute to weakening the Houthis financially and militarily, especially by imposing restrictions on financial transactions at the port of Hodeidah, which would limit their ability to carry out military operations.
Furthermore, the U.S. aims to curb Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, which threaten international shipping, by coordinating stricter policies with allies, including Saudi Arabia and Israel.
The report suggested that these U.S. pressures could further isolate the Houthis politically and reduce the support they receive from countries such as Oman and Iraq. This, in turn, could provide Saudi Arabia with broader options in dealing with the Yemeni conflict, including resuming military operations against the Houthis if necessary.
Despite these expectations, the center warned of the humanitarian consequences of these policies, noting that sanctions could lead to rising prices and a decline in humanitarian aid flows, exacerbating the suffering of Yemenis. It stressed that these risks require careful handling by all concerned parties.
In conclusion, the report recommended that the legitimate Yemeni government establish clear strategies to navigate these changes, ensure the continued flow of humanitarian aid, and leverage international support to strengthen its political and military position in the coming phase.
