Israel prepares escalated strikes on Houthis, signals possible action against Iran - report

The Israeli government is reportedly preparing to launch more forceful and wider strikes on the Houthi terrorist group in Yemen in retaliation for repeated missile and drone attacks.

Israel's pledge comes shortly after the United States and the Houthis reached a ceasefire deal. However, an unnamed Israeli official stressed that the deal would not limit Israel’s military actions against the terror group.

“We will keep hitting the Houthis. That deal doesn’t bind us – they’ll pay the price,” an Israeli security official told Ynet News.

The Houthis have fired hundreds of missiles and drones against Israel since November 2023. Israel has responded by striking Houthi targets in Yemen on several occasions. Last week, a Houthi missile evaded Israel’s multilayered aerial defense system, landing close to Ben-Gurion International Airport in the central part of the country.

While the attack resulted in minimal damage, it prompted many foreign airline companies to suspend their flights to and from Israel due to security concerns.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) responded within 24 hours by striking the Houthi-held Hodeidah port, which plays a crucial role in the transfer of Iranian arms to the Houthis. The following day, the IAF launched an attack to damage the Houthi-controlled Sanaa Airport, Yemen’s primary air transportation hub.

Houthi leadership acknowledged the ceasefire with Washington but the terror group emphasized it would continue attacks against the Jewish state. On Friday, the Houthis fired yet another missile at Israel, which was successfully intercepted by the country’s aerial defense systems.

The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, confirmed that the latest missile was aimed at Ben-Gurion Airport. While flights were briefly halted, the airport continues to be fully operational.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz responded to the latest Houthi attack by vowing to intensify strikes on the Houthis – and potentially target their patron, the Iranian ayatollah regime.

“The Houthis continue to fire Iranian-made missiles at Israel. As promised, we will respond forcefully in Yemen and wherever necessary,” Katz warned.

Officials also told Ynet that the IDF is preparing for potentially striking the Iranian regime, warning that “Iran won’t get off easy.”

Meanwhile, large anti-Israel rallies were held in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa and other Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. Footage from the protests showed banners that stated, “We defeated America, we will defeat Israel.”

By contrast, U.S. President Donald Trump has argued that the Houthis begged for a ceasefire after the U.S. military struck over 800 Houthi sites and eliminated hundreds of Houthi terrorists.

Another anti-Israel slogan read, “Jaffa will chase you to your grave” – a reference to historic Jaffa - now part of Tel Aviv - whose Arab residents fought against Tel Aviv during Israel’s War of Independence in 1948.

“America failed and abandoned its defense of Zionist ships,” the protesters claimed. “We reaffirm our commitment to defend Gaza and support the resistance. We will not leave them alone.”

Hezam al-Asad, a senior Houthi official who often threatens Israel in his posts on 𝕏, wrote: “The temporary entity [Israel] is under fire.”

Senior Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti vowed to continue attacks against Israel as long as the war in Gaza continues.

“Any Israeli escalation will justify an air and naval blockade. Our operations will continue until the war of extermination in Gaza ends,” he said in an interview with Qatar's news outlet, Al-Araby.