Israel takes tougher stance on Houthis, launches broader military campaign

Israel has redefined its confrontation with the Houthi movement in Yemen as a “military campaign,” signaling a significant shift in its approach to the ongoing conflict.

This change in terminology reflects Israel’s intent to escalate its military operations against the Houthis, with plans to extend beyond airstrikes to a broader range of offensive measures targeting the Houthi regime and its leadership, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

Military sources have indicated that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are preparing a series of operations aimed at weakening the Houthi forces, marking a strategic expansion of Israel’s military engagement. The decision follows Israel’s recent successes in Lebanon, where it inflicted considerable damage on Hezbollah, and the fall of the Assad regime in Syria.

Israeli officials view the Houthis as the last Iranian-backed militia still active in the region posing a direct threat to Israel. While other Iranian proxies have either been weakened or neutralized, the Houthis, supported by Iran, remain a significant concern for Israel’s security interests in the Middle East.

The IDF faces unique challenges in Yemen, given the geographic distance of approximately 2,000 kilometres from Israel. Despite these logistical hurdles, Israel has urged the United States and other international allies to increase diplomatic and military pressure on the Houthis. Furthermore, Israel has suggested the possibility of joint offensive operations to further counter the Houthi threat.

By Vafa Guliyeva