Operating Near and Far
The IDF conducted retaliatory precision strikes against Houthi targets over 1,060 miles away from Israel.
At 2:36 AM this morning, the Houthi terror regime launched a missile from Yemen toward Israel. Sirens blared across central Israel—in Tel Aviv, at Ben-Gurion Airport—forcing millions of civilians to take cover in bomb shelters. Any of you located in Israel likely felt the disruption firsthand.
The missile was partially intercepted, shrapnel fell in central Israel, including the missile warhead which directly hit a school in Ramat Efal.
As a father I think about what could have happened if this attack had occurred during school hours—if children had been inside those walls, catastrophic is the word that comes to mind. This is yet another stark reminder of the Houthi regime’s disregard for civilian lives and international law.
Who Are the Houthis?
This morning’s attack was not an isolated incident—for over the last 14 months, the Houthis have launched hundreds of missile and UAV attacks from Yemen against Israel. This is part of a larger pattern of aggression from the Houthis, a group that has emerged as a significant regional and global threat.
Officially known as Ansar Allah, this group began as a local religious movement in northern Yemen during the 1990s. Over the years, they have transformed into a powerful insurgency, seizing Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, in 2014 and plunging the country into a brutal civil war.
Backed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, the Houthis have become a key player in Tehran’s campaign to destabilize the region. With Iranian funding, weapons, and training, they have extended their reach beyond Yemen, targeting countries across the Middle East. Their attacks also threaten critical shipping routes in the Red Sea, endangering global trade and security.
These actions are not just local disputes—they are a manifestation of a dangerous alliance between the Houthis and Iran, designed to disrupt peace and stability far beyond Yemen’s borders. This is why Israel’s operations are not just defensive but essential for safeguarding civilians and maintaining regional security.
A Decisive and Precise Response
Early this morning, we acted decisively. The IDF launched a series of precise retaliatory strikes, targeting Houthi military infrastructure over 1,060 miles from Israel. The operation was meticulously planned, with intelligence refined to ensure accuracy and minimize harm to civilians.
At 3:15 a.m., the first wave of strikes hit military targets in Houthi-controlled ports of Al-Hudaydah, As-Salif, and Ras Isa. These ports are economic hubs for the Houthi terror regime and serve as critical strongholds for weapons smuggling from Iran. This was followed by a second wave targeting military targets in Sana’a. These operations were carried out with 14 IAF fighter jets—all of which returned safely.
In total, five targets were struck, including facilities used to exploit energy and fuel resources for terror purposes. The operation demonstrates our ability respond decisively to threats, no matter how far from our borders.
Why It Matters to Me—and Should Matter to You
The Iranian-backed Houthis are not just attacking Israel. Their reach extends far beyond our borders, targeting other countries in the Middle East and even global powers like the United States and the United Kingdom. Their attacks on international shipping vessels in the Red Sea and elsewhere have made them a threat to the global maritime community. The U.S.-led maritime coalition, spearheaded by CENTCOM, has intercepted many of these threats.
As we have shown time and again throughout all arenas, Israel will act against any enemy in the Middle East that threatens the State of Israel and its civilians.
This morning’s events underscore the gravity of the threat we face. The Houthis are not just a Yemeni problem or an Israeli problem; they are a global threat fueled by Iran’s relentless ambitions.
Thank you for bypassing the MSM, which always paints Israel as being in the wrong and as the aggressor. Your Substack is a "must read" for me.
Thank you . So important to get clear , factual information to be able to not only understand personally the bigger picture here but to have the ability to then discuss this with the right context to those who don’t realize how threatening , menacing, truly dangerous these barbarians are.