I think you’ve got the right idea, but someone is using them
as proxies in that region.
Someone is supplying them with advanced weapons.
“You swing this around. Then you pull this up. Then you
point it in the general direction you want. Then you push
this button.”
As for the cable, I’m thinking an advanced nation did it,
and the Houthis took credit.
It’s Russia and China.
Don’t forget, for example, the Iranian intel ship. The Houthis’ attacks lapsed noticeably while that ship was out of commission from the US (?) hack attack.