Rashad al Alimi, the Riyadh-based chairman of Yemen‘s Presidential Leadership Council, used his September 25, 2025, United Nations speech to warn the international community that the “Houthis are only getting stronger.” Of course, his own behavior is in part to blame as he continues to take Saudi diktats and works to undermine any competitors who show themselves more competent or demonstrate greater on-the-ground legitimacy than he does.

The Saudis may, on paper, oppose the Houthis, but in actuality, they prefer to appease them in exchange for quiet.