Yemen’s Houthi Militia’s Attack Claim on Israel Raises Tensions

Yemen's Houthi Militia's Attack Claim on Israel Raises Tensions

Akif Wani | November 2, 2023 | 07:14 PM IST | Palasteine, World | Follow on Google News

Yemen’s Houthi Militia’s Attack Claim on Israel Raises Tensions

Yemen’s Houthi Militia’s Attack Claim on Israel Raises Tensions

Yemen’s Houthi militia claimed responsibility for an attempted attack on southern Israel, launching a significant number of ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones, toward Israeli targets. This attack, perceived as a response to what the Houthis deemed “brutal Israeli-American aggression” in Gaza, marks their third operation in support of Palestinians and comes with threats of further missile and drone assaults.

The Houthi claims, however, could not be independently verified. On the same day, the Israeli military reported the successful interception of a surface-to-surface missile originating from the Red Sea area. Several other “aerial threats” were also intercepted but did not breach Israeli territory.

Expanding Houthi Capabilities and Their Impact on Israel

Despite the thwarted attack, this incident showcases the growing capabilities of the Houthi militia, an Iran-backed group that seized control of Yemen’s capital, Sana, in 2014. After a failed attempt by a Saudi-led coalition to dislodge them, the Houthis now dominate much of northern Yemen and play a vital role in Iran’s “Axis of Resistance,” alongside groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and armed factions in Iraq.

The emergence of the Houthis on the battlefield sends a clear message to Israel that a new regional force opposes it. Diversifying the sources of attacks on Israel is a strategic move by the Axis of Resistance, designed to confound Israel and discourage the expansion of its ground military operations in Gaza.

Houthi Commitment to the Palestinian Cause

Support for the Palestinian cause and hostility toward Israel have long been central to the Houthi narrative. Their threats to become involved in the conflict intensified with Israel’s response to Hamas attacks on Gaza. Last week, Abdulaziz bin Habtour, the prime minister of the Houthi government, even mentioned the possibility of attacking Israeli ships in the Red Sea.

In 2015, when the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen began, the Houthis lacked the capacity for drone strikes. However, with Iranian support, they have since developed these capabilities. They even claimed attacks in Abu Dhabi, over 700 miles from northern Yemen, last year.

Israel has recognized the Houthi militia as a growing threat in recent years, responding by deploying Iron Dome batteries near Eilat in 2020. The potential for Houthi attacks on southern Israel now necessitates allocating resources that could have been used elsewhere, further highlighting their significance.

It’s worth noting that while the Houthi militia’s military capabilities have grown, their control remains in a war-torn, impoverished region. In contrast, the Israeli military boasts advanced air defense systems and strong U.S. government support. This imbalance also characterized the Houthi-Saudi conflict, with Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia being largely thwarted, causing fewer casualties than the Saudi-led coalition’s airstrikes in Yemen, backed by the U.S.

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Akif Wani