Reports suggest that Israel is preparing a significant military response against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, Iran’s final active proxy force, following the group’s launch of another ballistic missile on Monday, which set off air raid sirens in central Israel.
According to The Times of Israel, although the missile was intercepted before it entered Israeli airspace, residents in Tel Aviv and nearby areas were instructed to take cover in bomb shelters. Meanwhile, The Jerusalem Post noted that fragments of the missile landed in Jerusalem, with shrapnel striking an apartment.
Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported.
The Jerusalem Post further explained that Israel is preparing a decisive retaliation against the Houthis, the last Iranian proxy still capable of mounting effective attacks on Israel. The report highlighted this move in the context of recent operations:
“Israel is likely to finally respond to Yemen’s Houthis in the coming weeks, The Jerusalem Post learned on Monday following yet another ballistic missile attack by the Iranian proxy.
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If Yemen had not attacked again after December 1, Israel might have chosen not to respond at all.
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But on Monday, sources finally indicated a loss of patience with the Houthis.”
Israel has already launched retaliatory strikes against the Houthis twice, conducting manned airstrikes in July and again in September.
While Iran-backed militias based in Iraq have also targeted Israel in the past, these groups have been quiet in recent months, likely due to U.S. retaliation after they attacked American forces in the region.
In a related development, former U.S. President Donald Trump had designated the Houthis as a terrorist organization during his term in office. However, President Joe Biden later reversed that decision, citing the need to facilitate humanitarian aid to Yemen and to create an opening for renewed negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.
{Matzav.com}