The Legitimacy Trap: International Institutions and the Houthis' Hold on Yemen
The Houthis' survival in Yemen is often attributed to their battlefield victories and Iranian support. However, a third crucial factor is the weaponization of international engagement.
Engagement without accountability has been shown to strengthen rather than moderate Houthi behavior. A recent example of this is the meeting between the chief of mission for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Houthi Foreign Ministry official Ismail al-Mutawakkil in Sanaa on September 2, 2025.
The ICRC chief offered condolences for the "crime committed by the Zionist entity" and expressed "solidarity" with Yemen, promising the ICRC's plans to provide assistance were unchanged.
This pattern of engagement has been repeating itself, with international institutions inadvertently sustaining the Houthis' hold on Yemen.
Author's summary: International engagement can inadvertently legitimize the Houthis' hold on Yemen.
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