Nadwa al-Dawsari warns U.S. Congress of Houthi threats and foreign support

Nadwa al-Dawsari, a researcher at the Middle East Institute, provided testimony before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee regarding the security threats posed by the Houthi militia in Yemen. Al-Dawsari highlighted that the group poses significant risks to international maritime navigation and regional stability.

During her briefing, al-Dawsari alleged that Chinese companies have assisted the Houthis in smuggling weapons and monitoring vessel movements. She also noted the presence of Russian experts in Sanaa during 2024, suggesting they assisted the group in targeting ships. She argued that China and Russia are utilizing the Houthi proxy to expand their influence in the region at the expense of American interests.

Al-Dawsari criticized previous international approaches, stating that various truces allowed the Houthis to consolidate power and develop missile, drone, and maritime capabilities. While she noted that U.S. military strikes have damaged Houthi capabilities—reducing ballistic missile launches by 69% according to CENTCOM data—she emphasized that these strikes have not eliminated the threat. She called for the United States to provide more robust political, military, and economic support to the Yemeni government to help restore state authority across the country.