Aden – The unofficial understandings between the United States and Yemen’s Houthi movement have entered a critical phase following Israel’s recent airstrike on the Yemeni capital, Sana’a. 

The August 24 attack—one of the most intense since the Red Sea front opened—killed six people and injured nearly 90, including civilians.

The strike targeted a compound housing the presidential palace, power stations, and fuel depots. It came in response to a Houthi-launched missile carrying cluster munitions toward Israel, marking a significant escalation that Tel Aviv described as a red-line breach.

Although Washington was not directly involved in the attack, its repercussions threaten to derail the quiet diplomatic channels the Biden administration had opened with the Houthis. 

These efforts, often mediated through Oman, aimed to de-escalate tensions in the Red Sea and safeguard international shipping routes—separating maritime security from broader regional conflicts involving Iran.

However, the Israeli strike has reshuffled the deck. Houthi leaders have intensified their anti-American rhetoric, accusing the U.S. of complicity in what they called “Israeli aggression.”

Analysts say the Biden administration now faces a difficult choice: continue its containment strategy with the Houthis despite mounting pressure from Israel and Gulf allies, or adopt a tougher stance that could collapse the fragile understandings and reignite maritime hostilities near Bab al-Mandab.

Complicating matters further, reports suggest the incoming Trump administration may pursue a more confrontational approach toward Iran and its regional proxies—casting doubt on the future of any U.S.–Houthi engagement.

This rising tension also threatens to stall UN-led mediation efforts and derail Yemen’s political process, at a time when the country remains gripped by a worsening humanitarian crisis.