Report: Israel prepares for attack from Houthis as they rearm

A senior Israeli military official recently cautioned in a closed meeting that Israel’s army must be prepared for a potential surprise attack from the Houthis, according to media reports.

The Houthi terror group is one of the biggest uncertainties in the current campaign. Despite escalating threats in recent months, the group has stayed out of the Israeli-American efforts against Iran, remaining “sitting on the fence” and not yet intervening.

The senior official has ordered a thorough examination of every launch and emerging terror route to assess any possible connections to the Houthis.

The official further warned that, with the assistance of Iran, the Houthis have rebuilt their ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities, which could potentially reach Israel.

Opinions within the Israeli security establishment are divided. Some officials believe that the Houthis are aware that, given the current geopolitical coalition, they might be seen as targeting the Americans, who are stationed throughout Israel with thousands of soldiers. Even more concerning, the Houthis could be viewed as violating the ceasefire agreement with the US, risking a potential attack from multiple directions. As a result, they are carefully managing these risks.

On the other hand, some within the defense establishment argue that Israel cannot afford to lower its vigilance. There are growing concerns that the Houthis may be preparing for a surprise attack, either from the air or on the ground.

To address this, the Israeli army has reinforced air defense and air control systems in key areas, focusing on improving monitoring, detection, and interception along the eastern border, especially given concerns about potential ground operations.