Houthis Hold Back as Iran's Strategic Reserve; US Carrier Groups Reposition Out of Missile Range

Despite IRGC advisors stationed in Yemen, the Houthis have limited their response to protests and declarations, a marked contrast to their aggressive Red Sea shipping campaign post-Oct 7. Analysts at MEI and Stimson assess the Houthis are functioning as Iran's strategic reserve, preserving capability for a wider escalation. CENTCOM repositioned the USS Gerald Ford south in the Red Sea near Jeddah and the USS Abraham Lincoln to waters off Salalah, Oman, to reduce exposure to Iranian and Houthi missile threats.