Despite continued international military pressure on the rebel organisation, the Houthis' capabilities are continuing to run unchecked, and trade across the Red Sea is falling, according to a recent study. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies' (IISS), missions such as Operation Prosperity Guardian, Operation Poseidon Archer, and EUNAVFOR Aspides had minimal influence.
According to the study, Navigating Troubled Waters: The Houthis' Campaign in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, military attacks have only briefly hindered the group's capabilities.
The UK, along with other Western nations, has made significant efforts to curb Houthi aggression. Two US Navy warships recently fired down Houthi missiles and drones aimed at three US commercial ships in the Gulf of Aden.
Nonetheless, since November 2023, the number of commercial ship transits across the Red Sea has plummeted by nearly 50%.