Houthis Expand Regional Power and Smuggling Networks Across East Africa
A comprehensive intelligence study reveals how the Houthis have expanded their military and logistical influence from Yemen into East Africa, establishing smuggling networks and alliances.
The Houthis have significantly expanded their regional influence and strategic posture, extending their operations from Yemen into the Horn of Africa and solidifying their position within the "Axis of Resistance" following regional escalations. According to a comprehensive research study published by the Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Research Institute, the movement has leveraged the war in the Gaza Strip, direct engagements against US and Saudi targets, and strategic alliances in East Africa to elevate its standing in the Muslim world.
The institute's findings indicate that the Houthis maintained active military operations against Israel throughout the Gaza conflict, launching dozens of UAVs and ballistic missiles and enforcing a maritime blockade in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Despite a subsequent ceasefire in October 2025 and an earlier US military campaign to degrade their capabilities, the Houthis have deepened their cooperation with regional actors, including elements of the Sudanese Armed Forces and Al-Qaeda affiliated networks in Somalia, utilizing clandestine smuggling routes to transport advanced Iranian weaponry.
Strategic Expansion in East Africa
In parallel to their maritime activities, the Houthis have established extensive smuggling networks spanning across Somalia, Sudan, and Djibouti. Reports highlight tactical coordination between the Houthis and Al-Shabaab, including the training of hundreds of operatives in Yemen on the handling and deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles. These networks utilize key ports, such as Bosaso in northern Somalia, to facilitate the transfer of Iranian-supplied cruise missiles, anti-ship systems, and communication equipment.
Furthermore, the research highlights growing Houthi entrenchment in Sudan and Eritrea, where the movement has established recruitment cells among local communities such as the Afar. This expanding logistics corridor along the African coastline of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden presents a multifaceted challenge to regional security and international shipping lanes.
Geopolitical Implications of Somaliland Recognition
The Amit Institute report also addresses Houthi reactions to Israel's formal recognition of Somaliland as an independent state in December 2025. Houthi leadership condemned the diplomatic move, vowing to treat any Israeli presence near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb strait as a direct military target.
Analysts warn that the consolidation of Houthi infrastructure in East Africa poses a direct threat to Israeli strategic assets and maritime commerce. If hostilities resume, the advanced weapon stockpiles and operational cells established across Sudan and Somalia could serve as forward-operating platforms for future strikes, amplifying the long-term security challenges in the region.
