Israel took swift retaliatory action by conducting airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen late Monday night, one day after suspected missile strikes from this Iran-backed group landed near an airport in southern Israel. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed this operation and stated it aimed to dismantle Houthis long-range missile capabilities and prevent future aggression.
On Sunday afternoon, a missile attack near Eilat’s Ramon Airport did not result in any casualties or damage; nevertheless it signalled an intensifying threat posed by Iran-backed Houthi militiamen, who increasingly have aligned themselves with anti-Israel campaigns against Israel.
“The IDF responded swiftly and decisively when an immediate threat presented itself by striking at multiple Houthi launch sites and weapons storage facilities in Yemen,” according to a military spokesperson. This action forms part of an overall campaign undertaken to protect Israeli citizens and prevent cross-border attacks.
Local sources in Yemen reported explosions near Al-Hudaydah port city on the Red Sea coast and in Saada region, both strongholds for Houthi movement. Casualty reports are unconfirmed but images circulating online indicate considerable damage to infrastructure.
Houthi rebels – who control much of northern Yemen including Sanaa’s capital city – have not provided an official response to Israel’s strikes; however, one senior figure from their ranks issued a warning on social media that Yemen reserves its right to respond with force against any “Israeli-American aggression.”
This exchange marks the first direct military confrontation between Israel and Houthi rebels, though they had long threatened to join in Israel’s fight in Gaza. Over recent months, Houthis fired missiles and drones towards Israel that were intercepted by both Israeli and U.S. naval forces operating in Red Sea.
Houthi rebels’ expanding reach has caused alarm among Western and regional powers alike. Their ability to launch long-range projectiles poses a substantial threat to regional stability, with implications for commercial shipping and air travel throughout the wider Middle East region.
Israel’s defense establishment has reiterated its dedication to maintaining a multi-front readiness posture. According to Yoav Gallant, Israeli Defense Minister: “We stand ready to respond to threats coming from all directions – North, East and now South – who threaten Israel.” Any actor attacking the Jewish state must know there will be consequences – any attack against us will incur direct retaliation and sanctions will follow directly after.
As tensions escalate, observers anticipate a larger regional conflict involving Iran’s proxy forces may soon ensue.