JERUSALEM – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged on Dec 22 to retaliate forcefully against Yemen’s Houthi rebels after they launched a missile at Tel Aviv, injuring 16 people in a pre-dawn attack on Dec 21. The incident marks the second Houthi strike on Israel within a week, escalating tensions amidst the ongoing Gaza conflict.
“As we acted with force against the terrorist arms of Iran’s axis of evil, so we will act against the Houthis… with force, determination and sophistication,” Netanyahu said in a video statement, denouncing the Houthis as part of Iran’s regional proxy network.
A Growing Threat Amid Regional Chaos
The Houthis, an Iranian-backed group, claimed responsibility for the missile attack, describing it as an act of solidarity with Palestinians as Israel continues its military campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Since the war began on October 7, Hamas’ attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,208 people, with 96 hostages still held in Gaza. Israel’s retaliatory operations have left at least 45,259 people dead, predominantly civilians.
The escalating conflict has widened beyond Gaza, with Israel engaging other Iran-backed factions across the region, including the Houthis in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and forces loyal to the Assad regime in Syria.
US Strikes Houthi Targets Amid Escalation
On Dec 21, the United States launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, including a missile storage facility and a command-and-control center, hours after the rebels’ attack on Tel Aviv. According to US Central Command (Centcom), American forces intercepted Houthi drones and a cruise missile over the Red Sea but suffered a friendly-fire incident that resulted in two US Navy pilots being downed on Dec 22.
The Houthis also claimed responsibility for targeting the aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman, alleging they downed an F-18 jet, a claim yet to be independently verified.
Netanyahu’s Warning and International Backing
Netanyahu acknowledged US support in countering Houthi aggression, highlighting the shared global concern over the rebels’ threat to international shipping and security. “The US, as well as other countries, see the Houthis as a threat not only to international shipping – but to the international order,” Netanyahu said, stressing Israel’s resolve to make the Houthis “pay a very heavy price.”
Referring to the group as the last significant arm of Iran’s “axis of evil” following the conflict with Hamas, Hezbollah, and Assad’s forces, Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s strategy to dismantle threats systematically.
Israel’s campaigns across the region have already killed prominent leaders, including Hamas commander Yahya Sinwar and Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah. Despite a recent ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israeli troops remain active in southern parts of the country to counter residual threats.
The widening conflict highlights Israel’s dual-front battle: combating threats within Gaza while addressing regional security challenges posed by Iran-backed factions.