Netanyahu: Israel will not tolerate Houthi threats, more attacks planned

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, together with Defence Minister Yisrael Katz, announced that they had ordered the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to carry out attacks on strategic Houthi facilities in Yemen.

The prime minister emphasized that this was only the first of many planned operations, Caliber.Az reports referring to foreign media sources.

“This is not the first, and it will not be the last attack,” he warned.

Netanyahu made these remarks in a speech to the Knesset (Israel’s parliament), which was broadcast by his office.

Netanyahu explained that in recent days, the Israeli government had instructed the IDF to conduct precision strikes on key Houthi sites. The airstrikes successfully destroyed important terrorist assets that the Houthis were using, which Netanyahu described as a significant blow to the group. "We are strengthening our deterrence," the prime minister added. “Israel is striking at its enemies and systematically dismantling Iran’s terrorist satellites.”

The prime minister also reiterated Israel’s defence doctrine, stating that Israel has adopted a “very simple principle” — anyone who attempts to harm Israel will face retaliation with “uncompromising force.” He linked this approach to Israel’s broader strategy in the Middle East, saying Israel is actively working to change the regional dynamics, particularly by countering Iran’s influence.

Referring to Israel’s military operations in Syria, Netanyahu noted that after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government, Israel had inserted IDF forces into the buffer zones to prevent the establishment of any terrorist groups near its borders. “This story is over,” Netanyahu declared, stressing that Israel’s growing string of successes was being recognized both regionally and globally. The previous day, Netanyahu had pledged that Israel would act against the Houthis “powerfully, decisively, and resourcefully.”

However, Israel's Mossad intelligence chief, David Barnea, voiced a more targeted strategy. According to Reshet 13 TV, Barnea argued that in order to effectively stop Houthi attacks, Israel should focus on Iran, which he referred to as the “head of the snake.” “If we only strike the Houthis, it’s not guaranteed that we will succeed in stopping them,” Barnea reportedly told Israeli leadership. Channel N12 claimed that Barnea provided this recommendation to the Israeli Cabinet in writing.

The recent escalation follows a series of Houthi rocket attacks on Israel. On December 19, the Israeli military reported rocket fire from Yemen targeting central Israel. One missile was intercepted, but debris from the interception caused severe damage to a school building in Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv. In response, the IDF launched airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, including energy infrastructure in the capital, Sanaa.

On December 21, another rocket was fired from Yemen toward central Israel. The missile was not intercepted and fell near Tel Aviv, injuring at least 14 people, according to Israel’s national ambulance service. 

By Tamilla Hasanova