This report contrasts the rhetoric and facts behind the US and the Houthis around the attacks in the Red Sea and the regional crisis.
Dr. Luca Nevola is a Senior Analyst for Yemen and the Gulf at ACLED. In this capacity, Luca produces and coordinates analysis, contributes to the oversight of regional data coverage, and serves as a point of contact for partnerships and external engagement across the Middle East desks. He also oversees analysis for the Yemen Conflict Observatory.
Luca is an expert in political Islam, religious repression, subnational power dynamics, and tribal conflict, with over 15 years of experience in non-profits, academia, and the private sector. Since 2008, Luca has conducted ethnographic research in Highland Yemen, developing an in-depth knowledge of local social structures, minority groups, and political elites, with a specific focus on Zaydi revivalism and the Houthi movement. Before joining ACLED, he worked as a Yemen analyst for several organizations, including ACAPS, the European Institute of Peace, and the Yemen Support Fund, among others. For ACLED, he has also worked as Senior Researcher in MENA Religion and Repression.
Luca holds an MA and a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Milano-Bicocca, with a focus on Arabic language and Islamic studies. He also worked as research fellow for the Yemen College of Middle Eastern Studies and the University of Sussex.
Spoken languages: Italian, English and Arabic Timezone: Central European Time - CET
This report contrasts the rhetoric and facts behind the US and the Houthis around the attacks in the Red Sea and the regional crisis.
US airstrikes on Iran escalate tensions with limited Houthi response.
In April 2025, violence intensified in Gaza amid an expanding Israeli buffer zone, sectarian tensions rose between the Syrian government and Druze militias, and US airstrikes skyrocketed amid continued Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
Overview of recent conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, and Yemen with detailed analyses and data.
US forces launched deadly strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, marking the first military action under Trump against Houthis listed as FTO.
Houthi repression, political dissent, tribal disorder, and infighting in Ibb, Yemen.
Ceasefire agreements and violent incidents in Gaza, Lebanon, Red Sea, Syria, West Bank, and Yemen.
Violence in Gaza decreased, tensions persist between Lebanon and Israel, Houthi confrontations rise.
Watch the recorded webinar for a discussion unpacking the Red Sea crisis, broader regional dynamics, and the deeper realities behind public claims.