Israeli Prime Minister: Our Work with the Houthis Has Just Begun

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Thursday, December 27, after Israeli fighter jets attacked Houthi positions in Yemen, "Our work with the Houthis has just begun." In an interview with Channel 14 of Israeli television, Netanyahu referred to the beginning of attacks against the interests of the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, adding, "We have just started. We will not allow them to attack us again. We will bring a bitter end to the Houthis so that they learn a lesson; just as we promised and Hamas, Hezbollah, and Assad's Syria learned their lesson." Earlier on Thursday, during a speech by Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthis, Israel targeted positions of this Iran-affiliated group in Sana'a. According to the Jerusalem Post, the main band, control tower, and an aircraft at Sana'a International Airport were among the targets of the Israeli military operation. Reports published by Sky News Arabia also indicated a fire at Sana'a Airport due to Israeli airstrikes. The Israeli army stated in a statement that Air Force fighters conducted attacks against the military positions of the "terrorist regime" of the Houthis on the western coast and in the interior regions of Yemen after operational plans were approved by the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, the Minister of Defense, and the Prime Minister of Israel. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz previously stated on Monday, December 24, during a military ceremony, "We will strike the Houthi leaders just as we did with Haniyeh, Sinwar, and Nasrallah." A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed that Guterres finds the Israeli attacks on Houthi positions in Yemen on Thursday "concerning" and condemns them, believing that the Israeli army's attacks on the Houthis could increase the risk of escalating tensions in the region. The Iran-backed Houthis have repeatedly attacked commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden with drones and missiles over the past year, and in recent months have directly targeted Israeli territory. The Houthis claim that their attacks are to support the people of Gaza in the war between Israel and Hamas. However, the U.S. and its allies argue that the actions of this group disrupt maritime transport and the global economy.