(Bloomberg) — Israel struck multiple targets in Yemen it said were controlled by Houthis, the last of the Iran-backed groups still fully engaged in the regional war that began 14 months ago.
Most Read from Bloomberg
Targets hit Thursday included military infrastructure at the Sanaa International Airport and in the Hezyaz and Ras Kanatib power stations, according to the Israel Defense Forces. They also struck military infrastructure in the Hodeidah, Salif and Ras Kanatib ports on the western coast. At least four people died and 42 were injured at the airport and in Hodeidah, according to the Houthi health ministry.
“We are determined to cut off this terrorist arm of Iran’s evil axis,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. “We will persist in this until we complete the task.”
It was a rebuff to efforts by the Houthis to slowly escalate their attack on Israel with an eye toward avoiding full-out retaliation. Israelis viewed the nature of the attacks — mostly in the early hours of the night over the past week — as evidence that the rebel group was trying to inflict fatigue while keeping a cap on the confrontation.
With Hamas on the ropes after losing much of its forces in Gaza since it began the conflict in October 2023 and Hezbollah in an official truce, Houthis are the only ones shelling Israel, although from some 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) away.
“We are witnessing escalation management by the Houthis,” said Uzi Rubin, an architect of Israel’s air defenses and veteran Defense Ministry adviser. “They vowed to attack Tel Aviv because we attacked Sanaa, but they are not yet ready to inflict major civilian casualties. Pre-dawn strikes mean people aren’t out and about.”
In response to earlier attacks, Israel twice bombed the Hodeidah port, a key source of income and a conduit for imported goods for Houthis. It has also threatened to attack Houthi leaders. The US and UK have also attacked the militia.
“The Houthis have been very, very hard to shut down,” said James Jeffrey, who was the US special representative for Syria engagement during president-elect Donald Trump’s first term, citing US efforts to intercept Houthi missiles in the Red Sea.
“Israel can take out capabilities, but as long as the Houthis can get additional supplies from Iran, particularly missile components, they can keep this up,” Jeffrey said on Bloomberg Television’s Balance of Power. Israel may eventually decide “to go after Iran” directly if the Houthis don’t stop their attacks, he said.