Israel Opposes Preemptive Strike on Houthis Amid Red Sea Escalation
Israel opposes a preemptive strike on Yemen's Houthis, favoring a regional coalition instead, amid rising concerns over the militia's strategic advances near the Bab el-Mandeb strait and potential threats to global shipping.
The Israeli security establishment opposes a preemptive strike against the Houthi movement in Yemen, a senior Israeli intelligence official told Al-Monitor. Israel is deeply concerned by the collapse of the Yemeni-Saudi front against the Houthi rebels and the growing capabilities demonstrated by the Iran-backed militia. While Israel's stance may change if the situation escalates, the current military recommendation is to focus on building a regional coalition against the Houthis.
On Monday, the Houthis seized the Hanish Islands in the Red Sea, expanding their foothold along the strategic maritime route leading to the port of Eilat. Last Thursday, they captured the port city of Mocha, followed on Friday by the seizure of Perim Island, granting them control over the area surrounding the strategic Bab el-Mandeb strait. A senior Israeli security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that despite absorbing heavy blows from the Israeli Air Force, American strikes, and years of Saudi aerial bombardment, the group continues to improve its operational, ground, and intelligence capabilities.
Three Strategic Dangers
The Israeli intelligence official outlined three potential developments that could alter the military's current posture. The first involves a military escalation between Iran and the United States that could compel Tehran to direct the Houthis to launch missile and drone attacks against Israel. In such a scenario, Israel would respond immediately. However, the official noted that currently there is no intention to join an offensive campaign against the Houthis or renew unilateral strikes.
"Right now we have no intention of joining the campaign against the Houthis or renewing strikes against them," the intelligence official stated.
The second danger involves the tightening of Houthi control over the strategic shipping lane. A Houthi takeover of the strait carries far-reaching consequences for international maritime traffic and could paralyze the port of Eilat, directly impacting the global economy. Furthermore, the Houthis pose an immediate threat to Saudi oil shipments transiting Bab el-Mandeb as an alternative to the blocked Strait of Hormuz.
Saudi Security and Regional Dynamics
A third scenario points to Saudi Arabia potentially requesting Israeli assistance to defend against Houthi attacks. According to reports citing Middle East diplomatic sources, Israel and Saudi Arabia have held talks under the auspices of the U.S. Central Command regarding intelligence sharing and support for Riyadh. The Houthis have evolved from a localized tactical problem into a global strategic threat, emerging as Tehran's most effective proxy.
Israel has previously targeted Houthi infrastructure between May and October 2025 in response to projectile attacks directed at Ben Gurion Airport and urban areas. Operations included strikes on the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and Al-Salif, as well as a June 14 strike that eliminated senior Houthi leadership, including Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser al-Rahawi.
