A triple threat in the Middle East: Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis

Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthi rebels share one thing: They are not countries, and yet without official "state" status, they are wreaking havoc on major powers. For decades we have talked about the danger of "non-state actors" in the world, conjuring up images of ragtag groups or gangs menacing governments. But these groups are proving to be far more committed and militarily savvy than in the past. In the Middle East, we are facing a triple threat from increasingly sophisticated groups that are rising in power and reach, acting as proxies for official governments and flexing their muscles in deadly…