Biden Blamed For Strengthening Iran-Backed Houthis Amid Strikes

Man in suit speaking, flanked by American flags.

Trump’s airstrikes against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels mark a decisive shift from previous policies that critics say emboldened the terrorist group under the Biden administration.

Key Takeaways

President Trump has launched significant military strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, targeting their bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect global shipping routes.
Critics assert that Biden’s 2021 decision to remove the Houthis from the terrorist list without securing concessions led to increased aggression and regional destabilization.
Iran’s Supreme Leader has criticized the U.S. strikes, while maintaining that the Houthis operate independently from Tehran despite evidence suggesting otherwise.
The Houthis have intensified attacks on commercial ships since fall 2023, significantly disrupting global shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Trump’s military action signals renewed U.S. commitment to Saudi Arabia and regional security after years of what analysts describe as “ambivalence” from the Biden administration.

Trump Orders Decisive Military Action Against Houthis

President Donald Trump has authorized a significant military campaign against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement, launching airstrikes targeting the group’s bases, leaders, and missile defense systems. The operation aims to degrade the Houthis’ ability to disrupt vital global shipping routes through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, where American and allied vessels have faced increasing attacks. In a stark warning posted on Truth Social, Trump declared that “no terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.”

The military operation has targeted multiple Houthi-controlled areas across Yemen, with explosions reported in the capital Sanaa, Saada province, and other regions. The Houthis have responded with claims of launching missiles and drones at U.S. naval assets, including the USS Harry S. Truman, though the Pentagon has not confirmed any successful strikes against American forces. Trump’s directive represents a significant escalation in U.S. military involvement against the rebel group, which has increasingly aligned itself with Iran’s regional ambitions.

Biden’s Policies Under Fire for Emboldening Houthis

The Trump administration’s forceful approach follows what many regional experts describe as a period of ineffective engagement with the Houthis under former President Biden. In February 2021, Biden announced the end of U.S. offensive support for the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis and removed the group from the U.S. Foreign Terrorist Organization list. This decision, according to critics, was made without securing any concessions from the rebel group and ultimately strengthened their position in the region.

“Biden’s early appeasement of the Houthis, lifting them from the terror list with nothing in return, emboldened their aggression,” said Saudi geopolitical analyst Salman Al-Ansari. “The strikes are long overdue. The Houthis have disrupted global trade, attacked U.S. forces and fueled instability. That said, it’s unclear how far the U.S. is willing to go in its campaign against them.”

The Biden administration later reversed course in January 2024, redesignating the Houthis as a terrorist organization after the group significantly increased attacks on commercial vessels. However, analysts argue this reversal came too late after the group had already gained momentum and expanded their operational capabilities with Iranian support.

Iran Rejects Responsibility While Supporting Houthis

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has condemned the U.S. military strikes, describing America as being in a state of “panic” over regional resistance movements. Despite substantial evidence pointing to Iranian material support for the Houthis, Tehran continues to deny direct responsibility for the group’s actions. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Hossein Salami insisted that “the Yemenis are an independent and free nation in their own land and have an independent national policy.”

“That which has caused the US and its allies to panic today is the fact that the Muslim nations are standing firmly and that this resistance will prove to be effective,” said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

President Trump has directly challenged Iran’s denials with explicit warnings about supporting proxy groups like the Houthis. “If you do, BEWARE, because America will hold you fully accountable and, we won’t be nice about it!” Trump stated, signaling a willingness to confront Iran more directly than his predecessor. The current military campaign appears designed not only to degrade Houthi capabilities but also to send a clear message to Tehran about the consequences of supporting regional proxy forces.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has framed the strikes as evidence that the U.S. fears the growing strength of Yemen's Houthi rebels. https://t.co/93DaZ5nhqq

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) March 17, 2025

Strategic Implications for Regional Security

The Trump administration’s actions against the Houthis represent more than just a tactical military operation—they signal a broader strategic realignment in U.S. Middle East policy. Jonathan Schanzer, senior vice president at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, noted that “Biden made the Houthis a partisan issue when he de-listed the Houthis. This has prompted Trump to target the Houthis more aggressively. And it doesn’t hurt that weakening the Houthis will signal to the Saudis that America is back as an ally of Saudi Arabia after four years of ambivalence by the Biden White House.”

Beyond the immediate military objectives, the operation represents an attempt to restore stability to critical global shipping lanes. According to maritime security experts, the Houthi attacks since late 2023 have forced major shipping companies to divert vessels around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope rather than use the shorter Suez Canal route, adding significant costs and delays to global supply chains. By targeting the Houthis’ military infrastructure, the Trump administration aims to reestablish the security of these vital waterways while demonstrating renewed commitment to traditional regional allies.