TEL AVIV – With ongoing negotiations for a prisoner exchange and ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and a largely stable truce with Hezbollah in Lebanon, former Israeli officials suggest Israel could allocate more military resources to curb the Houthi leadership in Yemen.
Retired Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin, former head of Israeli Military Intelligence, advocates for escalating and broadening attacks in Yemen, targeting both infrastructure and political leadership.
“Targeted killings are a possibility with sufficient intelligence. Houthi leaders should consider the fates of Sinwar and Nasrallah—and quickly,” he stated.
An IDF strike killed a Hezbollah operative in Beirut on September 28th; Israeli forces eliminated Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Rafah on October 17th, and Hamas’ Ismail Haniyeh in Iran last summer.
The Houthis are led by Abdul Malik Badruddin Al-Houthi (Abu Jibril), designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the U.S. State Department in 2021.
According to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), key figures include Abdul Khaliq Badruddin Al-Houthi (Abu Yunis), commander of the Republican Guard; Muhammad Ali Al-Houthi (Abu Ahmad), a member of the Supreme Political Council; and Abdul Karim Amiruddin Husayn Al-Houthi, interior minister.
Joe Truzman of FDD notes that intelligence-driven assassinations require time, and Israel’s current focus has been on Gaza and Lebanon.
“However, it’s feasible. Israel has targeted Iranian nuclear scientists and military personnel. This approach could be applied to Yemen. Continued Houthi attacks will likely shift more Israeli attention to them,” Truzman explained.
Maj. Gen. (res.) Yaakov Amidror, former national security advisor, highlights the complexities of such operations.
“Pinpointing a target’s location is crucial. Real-time intelligence is needed,” Amidror said, contrasting the ease of striking Nasrallah once his location was known.
“The Beirut strike took 15-20 minutes due to proximity. Yemen presents a massive logistical challenge, requiring aerial refueling and on-the-ground tactics. A different intelligence approach is necessary,” he added.
“Nasrallah and Sinwar were known adversaries, extensively researched; the Houthis weren’t a priority,” Amidror continued. “Strengthening intelligence gathering by forging alliances is the path forward.”
Overnight Wednesday, following a Houthi missile strike on a Ramat Gan school, Israel launched airstrikes in Yemen, targeting infrastructure.
The strikes, conducted in two waves, targeted the Ras Isa oil terminal, Hodeidah and Salif ports, and power stations in Sana’a.
In July, a Houthi drone killed a civilian in Tel Aviv, prompting Israeli strikes on Hodeidah Port. Dozens more strikes occurred near Hodeidah in September.
The Houthis have launched over 200 missiles and 170 drones at Israel since October 7th, 2023, along with attacks on over sixty commercial vessels in the Bab-el-Mandeb.
“The distance to Yemen is near the IAF’s maximum range, but this could be extended with more refueling,” Brig. Gen. (res.) Relik Shafir stated.
“Extended flight times demand intense pilot concentration,” he added. “Israel possesses the range and precision-guided missiles for any target.”
On Monday, Defense Minister Israel Katz warned the Houthis: “We will strike their strategic infrastructure and eliminate their leaders. As we did with Haniyeh, Sinwar, and Nasrallah, we will act in Hodeidah and Sana’a.”
Israel previously avoided claiming responsibility for Haniyeh’s death in July.
On Friday, U.S. Defense Department spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder stated that Israel “certainly has a right to defend themselves.”
The Houthis “are a danger to the entire Middle East,” former Mossad head Efraim Halevy said. “Most regional countries will cooperate to end these attacks.”
Halevy emphasized that “terrorism demands a robust response. The Houthis have suffered losses, and further provocation will necessitate stronger action.”
In March 2015, a Saudi-led coalition intervened against the Houthis at the request of then-Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. Yemen’s civil war remains unresolved, with the internationally recognized government based in Aden.
A source close to the Yemeni government suggested Israel should assassinate Houthi leaders, while Al-Arabiya reported that senior Houthi officials fled Sana’a.
“We need a deeper understanding of how to cripple Houthi operations,” former Israeli national security advisor Eyal Hulata said. “This requires more intelligence, assessment, and coordination.”
Hulata questioned whether the Houthis would remain a threat if Israel and Hamas reach a ceasefire.
“If they become a major enemy, Israel will have to dedicate resources it hoped to avoid,” he stated.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Israelis for patience, hinting at an intensified campaign against the Houthis.
“We will take forceful, determined, and sophisticated action. The result will be the same. As we acted against Iran’s proxies, so too will we act against the Houthis,” he pledged.