Iran's weapon smuggling to Houthis hinders peace in Yemen

Iranian weapons shipments to the Houthis in Yemen are, of course, nothing new. Iran has been supplying the Houthis with weapons, including ballistic missile components that allow the group to target neighboring countries since at least 2017.

But there has seemingly been a recent surge in shipments, which is unlikely attributable to more patrols or better intelligence. This increase in seizures, on the heels of a six-month cease-fire and relative lull in fighting, is concerning.

Iran may now have enough leverage and influence with the Houthis to effectively scuttle any long-term peace agreement. From 2014-17, particularly as United Nations sanctions against the Houthis came into effect, Iran began providing more assistance, both in the form of weapons and economic relief.

The Houthis, who were increasingly isolated internationally, quickly came to depend on Iran as one of their only reliable friends. That friendship blossomed into an alliance in 2017, when Iran began supplying ballistic missile components, drone technology, and Iranian and Hezbollah military advisors.

The recent increase in weapons shipments is one thing, but the bigger worry for US policymakers is that the Houthis may not feel free to make a peace deal on their own. Instead, they may run the terms through their contacts in Tehran, who will likely tack on new demands in an effort to short-circuit peace in Yemen.