<br><br>**US Bombings Fuel Houthi Propaganda A Deadly Game of Recruitment**<br><br>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The US-led bombing campaign and economic sanctions have inadvertently fueled the propaganda machine of Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, according to analysts.<br><br>The Houthis, part of Iran's axis of resistance against Israel and the United States, have been mining the situation for recruitment and propaganda efforts. This is evident from a recent promotional video released by the group, which showed special forces marching over the Israeli flag and performing acrobatic stunts while firing automatic weapons at targets bearing the American, Israeli, and British flags.<br><br>**Houthi Propaganda Machine**<br><br>The Houthis have portrayed themselves as defenders of Gaza during the Israel-Hamas conflict, launching a barrage of missiles and drones against Israel and cargo vessels plying the Red Sea trade route. In response, the administration of United States President Donald Trump has increased pressure on the group by redesignating it a terrorist organization and conducting near-daily air strikes that have killed over 200 people since mid-March.<br><br>**Child Soldiers**<br><br>The relentless campaign has led to the recruitment of child soldiers to fight for the Houthis. The US-led attacks have also resulted in unprecedented damage to the movement's infrastructure, including communication networks and control centers.<br><br>**Survivors Speak Out**<br><br>Rebel television aired interviews with survivors of the Ras Issa fuel port attack, who vowed support for Gaza despite being wounded on stretchers. The Houthis have managed to survive a decade of air strikes by a Saudi-led coalition and over a year of US attacks aimed at deterring their harassment of Red Sea shipping.<br><br>**Economic Damage**<br><br>The US has also been strangling the rebels financially, sanctioning banks and hitting infrastructure like the Ras Issa fuel terminal - a vital source of energy and funds for the Houthis' precarious economy. Returning the rebels to the US terror list makes it risky for companies to operate in their territory, including by importing materials, as they could face sanctions of their own.<br><br>**A Deadly Game**<br><br>The economic damage is much bigger than just [military strikes], said Baraa Shiban, a Yemen specialist at Britain's Royal United Services Institute, a security think tank. He questioned the effectiveness of Houthi propaganda among a population already reeling from more than a decade of war with the Saudi-led coalition.<br><br>This deadly game of recruitment and counter-propaganda has serious implications for regional stability and global security.<br><br>In this blog post, we explore how the US bombings have inadvertently fueled the Houthis' propaganda machine, leading to a deadly game of recruitment and counter-propaganda.
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