In the midst of the blue waters of the Red Sea, a force is quietly emerging, undisturbed by the world's complacent powers. The Houthis, with their guerrilla fighting force, control strategic locations from the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, becoming a force to be reckoned with in the region. In this quiet area painted by the desert and the sky in the past, the war continues, and the shadow of the great power game gradually emerges.
The Houthis are not alone in the Middle East. Iran, a regional power that emerged after the Islamic Revolution, has been adept at using the tactic of "proxy war" to gradually expand its influence in the Middle East. Proxy warfare, i.e., the realization of a country's international or regional strategic intentions without direct involvement by supporting irregular armed forces or political groups. The success of this strategy is best exemplified by the Houthis.
What turned the world on the side was the news that the Houthis had repelled the US aircraft carrier, which was hailed as the supremacy of the seas. Despite the disparity in strength between the two sides, the Slipper Corps broke the convention with its unique combat methods and forced the United States to intervene militarily in a difficult situation. This phenomenon is particularly prominent in the whirlpool of international politics, and the helplessness of the United States against the Houthis is not only reflected in the military challenge, but also in the face of Iran's "proxy war" strategy.
The rise of the Houthis and the Iranian support behind them are a challenge to the US strategic layout in the Middle East. U.S. interests in the Middle East are not only related to energy security, but also to the core of its global strategy. Still, the Houthi's resistance and the importance of the region make it difficult for the United States to deliver a fatal blow to him. Iran, on the other hand, has succeeded in spreading its influence from the Persian Gulf to the wider Middle East with its proxy support and strategic deployment.
Iran's presence in the Middle East has become increasingly visible through the Houthis. Despite the targeted elimination of Soleimani, the core ruler of Iran, by the U.S. military in 2020, Iran's response and subsequent tactical adjustments have demonstrated its foresight and sense of crisis. Iran not only plays an important role in regional politics, but also has a strategic advantage over the United States. This advantage stems from a deep understanding of geopolitical complexities and a flexible use of proxy strategy.
In this land where ancient civilizations meet, the contest between international powers and the game of regional power constitute a rich and complex picture. The rise of the Houthis, Iran's deep involvement, the strategic adjustment of the United States, and the reactions and interactions of other countries in the region have all drawn a new picture of the political landscape in the Middle East. From the Houthi perspective, its successful resistance to the US military is not an isolated incident, but a microcosm of the multinational game and intertwined interests of all parties in the entire Middle East.
Looking back at the long river of history, the wars and disputes in the Middle East today cannot help but make people think far-reaching. On the chessboard of international politics, the success of Iran's "proxy war" has not only won it a place, but also provided a new way for countries around the world to play. Nevertheless, whether such a strategy will be sustainable and whether it will trigger new conflicts and destabilizing factors remains an unknown in regional and even world politics.
Overall, the story of the Houthi struggle and Iran's proxy strategy illustrate the complexity of international politics and the multifaceted nature of national interests. In the face of the complex international situation, every country is making unremitting efforts for its own interests, and in this war without gunpowder, both powerful countries and non-state actors are writing a chapter of history in their own way.