Survival First: Houthis’ Cost-Benefit Calculus Avoids All-Out War with U.S. and Israel:

Survival First: Houthis’ Cost-Benefit Calculus Avoids All-Out War with U.S. and Israel:

The Houthis (Ansar Allah) showed surprising restraint during the first month of the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, which began in late February 2026.

Despite their usual aggression, they limited themselves to rhetorical support and public demonstrations in Sanaa.

This caution stemmed from two main factors:

First, sustained U.S. and Israeli airstrikes in 2025 had severely degraded their military capabilities, destroying much of their missile and drone stockpiles, killing key leaders, and damaging infrastructure.

Second, a cold cost-benefit analysis convinced them that direct confrontation with the U.S. and Israel could threaten their survival and control over parts of Yemen.

Although part of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance,” the Houthis have always prioritized Yemeni interests and their own autonomy over unconditional loyalty to Tehran.