escalation of tensions in the Middle# East.

The world is now waiting to see## whether the strikes will accomplish# their goal to stop the Houthis from## targeting ships in the Red Sea or raise# the risk of an even wider conflict.

Nadwa Al-Dawsari was born and raised# in Yemen and is a nonresident scholar## at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C.

Thank you for being with us.

And how will the U.S.-led strikes# ho w will that affect the militant group's# strategy moving forward, in your view?

NADWA AL-DAWSARI, Middle East Institute:# Well, I mean, the Houthis have survived## eight years of intense airstrikes# an d they survived that and even# emerged stronger than before.

So, airstrikes might neutralize# the Houthi threat on the Red Sea,## shipping, but that would be temporarily.

GEOFF BENNETT: What impact# will these airstrikes have## on the Houthis' standing in Yemen?# NA DWA AL-DAWSARI: Yemenis are concerned# about these airstrikes because they lived the## horrors of airstrikes for eight years, and these# airstrikes caused a lot of civilian casualties,## a lot of destruction, but also# they made the Houthis stronger.

So Yemenis at large don't want to go through# another episode of airstrikes that only the Houthis, at the expense of Yemenis.

Now,# the Houthis are still extremely unpopular,## but the Houthis are using the Gaza war# and the war with Israel and America,## which is their narrative, that they're# at war with Israel and America,## they're using that to oppress the# population and silence critics They're using that to force families to# send their children to indoctrination camps,## to recruit fighters, to recruit children at a mass# scale.

And so these airstrikes could be very good## for the Houthis.

The Houthis want war.

They want# confrontation for the U.S.

They want confrontation## with Israel because -- and that's why they# continue to attack the ships in the Red Sea.

That's how they build -- they make an# excuse to oppress the population.

So,## this will be good for the# Houthis if it's only airstrikes.

GEOFF BENNETT: Well, in order for# the U.S. goal of deterrence to## be effective on a more permanent basis,# what kind NADWA AL-DAWSARI: Well, the U.S.# -- the Houthis have proven to be a## strategic threat to security, regional# security and internation And so only a strategic approach will mitigate# the Houthi threat.

Now, airstrikes by the U.S.## and the U.K. are not going to address that.

The# U.S. and the international community need to## support Yemeni government forces to weaken# the Houthis militarily and rebuild Yemen.

GEOFF BENNETT: The Houthis, as you# well know, are also backed by Iran,## which has supplied militias across the Middle# East as a way of stepping up its own infl How independent are the Houthis from# Iran?

Are they acting on their own,## or are they following Iran's# instructions right now?

NADWA AL-DAWSARI: It's both.

So the Houthis are not Iran puppets.

They# don't carry Iran order the Houthis are very strong allies with Iran, and# they both have a long-term goal in the region,## which is Iran's expansionist agenda.

And# that includes weakening Saudi Arabia,## taking Mecca and eventually liberating Jerusalem,# in their own words, and destroying Israel,## more importantly, also pushing the# U.S. and the West out of the region.

The Houthis also are capable of acting# on their own.

Iran has empowered the## Houthis and strengthened them.

And# I'm not, even sure if Iran decided## that the Houthis need to de-escalate# today, that the Houthis would do that.

GEOFF BENNETT: The White House says the strikes# last night were not intended to ignite a wid regional war.

You can argue that, with the# U.S.-led attacks against Houthi targets in Yemen,## that the Israel-Hamas war has already# escalated into a regional conflict.

The question is whether or not it# can be contained.

How do you view it?

NADWA AL-DAWSARI: Things could inspire# a lot of control.

The risk is high.

Having said that, I think it's important for the# U.S. and the West to address the Houthi problem,## and that's not going to happen with# airstrikes.

And, also, it's not going## to happen with putting boots on the ground.

A# more sustainable solution would be to work with# the Yemeni government and strengthen Yemeni# forces, so that they can weaken the Houthis.

Now Iran and other proxies might# still exist, but the Houthis have## proven to be the most strategic threat# to everyone, basically, in the region.

GEOFF BENNETT: Nadwa Al-Dawsari is a nonresident## scholar at the Middle East# Institute in Washi Thank you.

NADWA AL-DAWSARI: Thank you