The Houthis' growing strength is no longer merely a local Yemeni problem, but an expanding regional threat with no meaningful force to restrain it. The lack of an effective response from Saudi Arabia's allies to the Houthi escalation illustrates this clearly. Within just a few months, the confrontation has evolved from tribal unrest and local fighting into a direct campaign against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on energy facilities, a maritime blockade and the seizure of strategic areas around Mokha, Mayun Island and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, all while demonstrating significant operational capabilities.
From Israel's perspective, if the Houthis consolidate their hold on the area, Iran will gain another lever of pressure against Saudi Arabia, the US and the global trade and energy system, without having to deploy its own military forces in the region. Through its proxies, the regime in Tehran could thus wield pressure from both sides of the Arabian Peninsula over two of the world's most sensitive shipping routes: the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb.
Broadly speaking, Israel has an interest in supporting actors seeking to weaken the Houthis. There is considerable logic in promoting a regional coalition comprising Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Somaliland and other partners in the Red Sea region that would coordinate its response to the Houthi threat. At this stage, however, and amid high tensions on several fronts simultaneously, direct Israeli military intervention may not be the right course. There is, however, another option: deepen intelligence assistance to Saudi Arabia through the US, strengthen regional coordination and begin preparing now for the possibility of another round of fighting against the Houthis in the future.
Israel should use the current lull in its campaign against the Houthis to develop indirect operational capabilities that would complement its air campaign. Such capabilities could add significant depth to the threat Israel poses to the Houthis and broaden its range of responses beyond strikes on infrastructure from the air and sea.
These capabilities could make it possible to strike leadership hubs, centers of military knowledge and expertise, command-and-control systems and weapons infrastructure. Such action would make clear to the Houthis that Yemen's geographic distance from Israel does not grant them immunity from direct attacks on their capabilities and leadership structures. The Houthis themselves are developing capabilities to carry out raids against Israel. In light of one of the lessons of Oct. 7, Israel must not wait for those capabilities to mature. These threats must be taken extremely seriously, and Israel must prepare proactively and in advance to thwart them.
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