The Houthis are here to stay, Israel cannot ignore the threat

Analysis: Iran’s proxy force vows to renew fight if cease-fire collapses, calling Israel 'regional threat'; despite repeated strikes by US-led coalition and IDF, new recruits training to invade Israeli communities

The cease-fire agreement has been announced, with all eyes on Sunday when its implementation begins. However, the threat from Yemen's Houthi rebels remains unchanged. On Saturday, a missile launched from Yemen targeting Israel was intercepted.
The Iranian-backed Houthis declared at the start of the war that they were fighting in solidarity with Gaza. In official statements, their military spokesperson Yahya Saree reiterated that they would continue their attacks until "the fighting in Gaza ends and the siege over the enclave is lifted."
A Houthi missile intercepted over Israel on Saturday
Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said that his forces would closely monitor the cease-fire's implementation. He warned that if Israel reneges on its commitments, the rebels are prepared to "support the Palestinian people militarily." He also claimed that the Houthis continue to develop their military capabilities.
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The rebels have demonstrated their ability to deploy missiles and drones capable of reaching Israel and causing significant damage. While the Iranian axis has weakened, it persists, and with assistance from its members, the Houthis have developed independent weapons manufacturing capabilities.
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חות'ים מפגינים בתימן
חות'ים מפגינים בתימן
Houthi rebels in Yemen
(Photo: Mohammed Huwais / AFP)
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שברי יירוט הטיל החות'י בביתר עילית
שברי יירוט הטיל החות'י בביתר עילית
Houthi missile fragment lands near Jerusalem after being shot down by Israeli air defenses on Saturday
The Houthis have garnered substantial support among local tribes, with recruits enduring grueling conditions, including traveling miles on foot and training in combat, despite repeated strikes by the U.S.-led Gulf coalition and Israeli forces. This has allowed the group to mask leadership failures and the economic devastation of Yemen under their control.
Houthi recruits are reportedly training to carry out invasions of Israeli communities, despite the 2,000-kilometer (1,243-mile) distance between Yemen and Israel—a threat that cannot be ignored.
ליאור בן ארי , מזכ"ל חיזבאללה חסן נסראללה לבנוןLior Ben Ari
"Even after the cease-fire, the Palestinian cause remains our nation's main responsibility," Houthi Supreme Political Council spokesperson Mohammed Abed al-Salam said in a statement. "The Zionist entity is a danger to all, and its continued occupation of Palestine threatens regional stability." He added that Israel was "implanted in the Middle East by the United States and the West" to the detriment of Palestinians and other nations in the region.
The Houthi rebels are here to stay, and Israel will need to decide on a strategy, as ignoring them is not an option. With a vast number of recruits and the capacity to continue building military assets, they pose an enduring challenge. The cease-fire deal arrives at a moment when this Iranian proxy retains considerable strength, despite sustained attacks.
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