Houthi attacks on Israel may resume, but this time it will be different

The specter of Houthi aggression is once again casting a shadow over the region, with experts warning that missile attacks toward Israel could soon resume. However, this time, the response from the United States signals a significant shift.

Last night (Saturday), U.S. President Donald Trump ordered extensive military strikes across Yemen, targeting the Houthi rebel group in a bid to curb their disruptive actions in the Red Sea and beyond. According to Reserve Lt. Col. Yuval Eylon, this development marks a notable escalation in the U.S. approach to the ongoing Houthi threat.

The U.S. operation focused on key Houthi military assets, including coastal missile launch sites aimed at maritime targets, command headquarters, centers for maritime and air surveillance, and an attempt to neutralize the group’s military leadership. According to American and Yemeni sources, the scale of these strikes surpasses previous efforts, reflecting a more aggressive stance. Trump justified the move, stating, “The Houthis have waged an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terror against ships, aircraft, and drones—American and others alike. These ceaseless attacks have cost the United States and the global economy billions of dollars while endangering innocent lives. We will not tolerate Houthi attacks on American vessels. We will use lethal and overwhelming force until we achieve our goal.”

The Houthi threat, while not eradicated, had shown signs of waning in recent months. Over the past month, a decline in attacks suggested the group might have been aligning with their stated goal of supporting the Palestinian struggle. However, their operations against shipping routes and military vessels and aircraft persisted at varying levels throughout much of this period. Despite this downward trend, the volume of commercial shipping traffic in the Red Sea has not recovered. Shipping companies and vessel operators remain wary of resuming operations, with traffic still far below the levels seen before late 2023, when Houthi activities intensified.

The U.S. strikes come as a response to the Houthis’ broader impact on maritime security and global trade. Trump’s administration views the group’s actions as a direct challenge to U.S. interests, with the president emphasizing that the economic toll—amounting to billions of dollars—demands a robust counteraction. The operation included targets critical to the Houthis’ ability to disrupt navigation, signaling an intent to degrade their military infrastructure significantly.

For Israel, the renewed Houthi threat raises the possibility of long-range missile attacks from Yemen, a scenario the country has faced before. Past incidents demonstrated the effectiveness of Israel’s defense systems, bolstered by close coordination with U.S. and allied forces, in thwarting such attacks. Should the Houthis resume their strikes, experts anticipate a response far greater than in previous encounters, reflecting the heightened U.S. commitment in the region.

The intensified U.S. campaign serves a broader purpose, addressing the needs of the international community to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. The strikes aim to weaken the Houthis’ ability to threaten shipping, a move that could directly benefit countries like Egypt, where the Suez Canal’s traffic has been severely hampered. Other Red Sea coastal nations, whose economies rely on maritime access, also stand to gain. Meanwhile, Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates continue to confront the Houthi threat across air, land, and sea dimensions. The U.S. offensive appears designed to support these allies while reinforcing American influence in the region.

The strikes also underscore a sustained U.S. effort to counter the Houthis, involving improved intelligence, tighter control over the group’s weaponry and leadership, and enhanced naval and air capabilities to address their terrorist activities. This requires significant American investment in maintaining a military presence in the area, a commitment the U.S. seems determined to uphold with greater resolve than in the past.

This collaboration could strengthen Israel’s regional standing. At the same time, the U.S. is signaling its intent to remain the dominant power in the Middle East, sending a clear message to all regional actors: American involvement in the conflict will persist, adapting as needed, until the threat is decisively managed.

Walla contributed to this article.