Israeli commentators are increasingly urging military action against Yemen’s Houthis, whom they describe as a growing strategic threat. Despite the challenges of a direct confrontation, the Houthis’ escalating maritime activities and missile launches against Israel have prompted calls for a long-term campaign to dismantle their regime entirely.
Rising Houthi Threats
Israeli journalist Dani Citrinovich, writing in Maariv, highlighted the Houthis’ recent drone strike on a residential building in Yavne, near Ashdod, as evidence of their determination to challenge Israel. He noted that this attack, along with recent ground-to-ground missile launches, underscores the Houthis’ resolve to continue their operations against Israel, especially amidst the ongoing war in Gaza.
Citrinovich emphasized that the Houthis have not been deterred by Israeli strikes on Hodeidah port or by U.S. naval deployments in the region. Their activities have escalated following the ceasefire in Lebanon, the severing of operational ties between Hezbollah and Hamas, and the restrained response from Iran to Israeli attacks.
Maritime and Strategic Risks
The Houthis have increasingly targeted international shipping routes in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and directed threats toward Eilat, impacting Israel’s strategic assets. Citrinovich revealed that the attacks have frozen operations at Eilat’s port and severely disrupted Israeli imports from East Asia.
He argued that while the Houthis lack the military capability to challenge Israel outright, their actions are a significant annoyance and could jeopardize critical Israeli infrastructure. This highlights the need for a broader, more decisive strategy to address the Houthi threat.
Call for a Comprehensive Campaign
Citrinovich proposed a sustained campaign aimed not just at neutralizing the Houthis tactically but at toppling their regime in Yemen. He acknowledged that such an effort would be neither quick nor easy, requiring long-term cooperation between Israel, the U.S., and regional allies.
“The Houthis’ ideological zeal and their lack of significant strategic assets make them highly motivated to continue attacking Israel, regardless of developments elsewhere in the Iranian axis,” he wrote.
He warned that failure to adopt a comprehensive approach could allow the Houthis to sustain their attacks indefinitely, posing a persistent threat to Israel and regional stability.
International Indifference and Iran’s Role
Arieh Egozi, a security correspondent for Zman Yisrael, argued that the Houthi threat is not only an Israeli problem but a global one. However, he criticized the U.S. and Europe for showing indifference toward the issue.
Egozi suggested that the U.S. could resolve the Houthi maritime problem swiftly with its advanced military capabilities, citing the example of B-52 bombers capable of delivering massive payloads. He lamented that the international community continues to “turn a blind eye,” leaving Israel to face the Houthi threat largely on its own.
He also highlighted Iran’s critical role in supporting the Houthis, supplying them with advanced weaponry, including armed drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles. This, he claimed, enables the Houthis to wage a war of attrition against Israel’s air defense systems.
Iran’s Strategy in Yemen
Egozi suggested that with Hezbollah and Hamas weakened and Assad’s regime toppled in Syria, Iran is leveraging the Houthis as a key proxy in its regional strategy. The Houthis are reportedly following direct instructions from Tehran, aiming to extend the conflict and pressure Israel’s defenses.
“If the U.S. were to join forces with Israel, action against the Houthis would be more feasible. However, if the current level of international inaction persists, Israel may have to act alone to deliver a decisive blow to the Houthis,” he warned.
Strategic Implications for Israel
Both Citrinovich and Egozi concluded that the current situation is unsustainable. The Houthis’ ability to disrupt Israel’s maritime and economic activities, coupled with their ideological fervor, presents a unique challenge. Israel must either secure international cooperation or prepare to undertake a prolonged campaign independently to neutralize the Houthi threat.
