Since Nov. 2023, Yemen’s Ansarullah movement has been targeting mainly commercial ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden with missiles and drones, with the declared aim to stop Israel’s war on Gaza. The operations have severely disrupted global trade and supply lines.

In response to the maritime attacks by Ansarullah—better known as the Houthis—Britain and the US launched a campaign in January to bomb key military targets in Yemen. Much to the western coalition’s dismay, these efforts have thus far proven futile. Paradoxically, the military campaign has boosted the Houthis’ soft power and support both at home and abroad. As anger toward US policies vis-à-vis...