In retaliation, Israeli forces launched precision strikes on Houthi-controlled targets in Yemen, including Sanaa International Airport and Hodeidah port, aiming to cripple Iran’s proxy infrastructure and arms networks.
BY PC Bureau
June 15, 2025–The Iran-backed Houthi rebels, a Shia-Islamist group controlling large swathes of Yemen, have intensified their long-range attacks on Israel, launching a relentless campaign of ballistic missiles and drones that they claim supports the Palestinian cause but increasingly reflects Iran’s broader strategy to destabilize Israel. Since the Israel-Hamas war erupted in October 2023, the Houthis have fired over 60 ballistic missiles and 310 drones targeting Israeli cities, military installations, and critical infrastructure, exposing gaps in regional defense systems and escalating tensions in an already volatile Middle East.
Recent Attacks Highlight Houthi Capabilities
On May 15, 2025, a Houthi ballistic missile struck Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, evading Israel’s multilayered air defense systems, including the Arrow missile shield and David’s Sling. The attack injured six people, damaged a terminal runway, and grounded flights for nearly 12 hours, sending shockwaves through Israel’s aviation sector. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed the strike was a “precision operation” aimed at disrupting Israel’s economy and supporting Palestinians under siege in Gaza. The incident marked a rare breach of Israel’s defenses, raising questions about the Houthis’ access to advanced Iranian missile technology.
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Earlier, on July 19, 2024, a Houthi suicide drone penetrated Tel Aviv’s airspace, striking a residential building near the U.S. embassy. The attack killed one civilian and injured 10, with debris igniting fires across a city block. The Houthis claimed the drone was a new “Yafa” model, designed to bypass radar detection, underscoring their growing sophistication. Since October 2023, Houthi attacks have targeted key Israeli sites, including Eilat’s port, Jerusalem, and military bases in the Negev Desert, though most have been intercepted by Israeli or U.S. forces, including the U.S. Navy’s USS Carney stationed in the Red Sea.
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Israel’s air defense systems, Iron Dome and THAAD, failed to intercept a Houthi missile launched from Yemen, which struck near Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport. pic.twitter.com/TMmLCaYQlZ
— The Tradesman (@The_Tradesman1) June 14, 2025
Iran’s Role in Houthi Aggression
The Houthis’ campaign is deeply intertwined with Iran’s “Axis of Resistance,” a network of proxy groups including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and Shia militias in Iraq and Syria. Tehran provides the Houthis with funding, advanced weaponry, and training, enabling them to project power far beyond Yemen’s borders. Analysts point to Iran’s supply of ballistic missiles, such as the Qadr and Zulfiqar models, and kamikaze drones resembling Iran’s Shahed-136 as key enablers of the Houthis’ attacks. “The Houthis are not acting alone,” said Dr. Eli Cohen, a Middle East security expert at Tel Aviv University. “Their strikes on Israel are a calculated extension of Iran’s strategy to encircle and pressure Israel through its proxies.”
The Houthis’ alignment with Iran also extends to their attacks on Red Sea shipping, a critical artery for global trade. Since November 2023, the group has targeted over 80 commercial vessels with missiles and drones, forcing shipping companies to reroute around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks and millions to shipping costs. The Houthis claim to target vessels linked to Israel, but neutral ships, including those carrying humanitarian aid, have also been hit, drawing condemnation from the United Nations. These maritime attacks align with Iran’s goal of disrupting Western-aligned trade networks while amplifying the Houthis’ regional influence.
Israel’s Robust Response
Israel has retaliated with precision strikes on Houthi-controlled targets in Yemen, aiming to degrade their military infrastructure. On May 20, 2025, Israeli F-35 jets bombed Sanaa International Airport, destroying the last Houthi-operated aircraft—a Soviet-era transport plane used for logistics—and damaging radar systems. On June 2, 2025, Israeli naval forces, supported by U.S. intelligence, struck Hodeidah port, a vital hub for Yemen’s humanitarian aid and a suspected conduit for Iranian arms smuggling. The attack caused widespread damage to port facilities, sparking fears of worsened food and fuel shortages in Yemen, where 18 million people rely on aid.
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Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant described the strikes as “a direct response to Iran’s proxy war,” vowing to “hold the Houthis and their backers accountable.” Israel’s operations have been coordinated with the U.S., which maintains a naval presence in the Red Sea under Operation Prosperity Guardian, launched in December 2023 to secure maritime routes. The U.S. and U.K. have also conducted over 200 airstrikes on Houthi targets since January 2024, targeting missile launch sites, drone storage facilities, and command centers in Sanaa and Saada.
Regional and Global Implications
The Houthi-Israel conflict is a flashpoint in the broader Iran-Israel proxy war, with the potential to draw in more regional actors. A brief ceasefire in early 2025, brokered by Oman and Saudi Arabia, collapsed after Israel resumed its Gaza offensive in March, prompting the Houthis to renew their attacks. The group’s slogan—“Allah is Great, Death to America, Death to Israel, a Curse on the Jews, Victory to Islam”—reflects their ideological alignment with Iran’s anti-Western and anti-Israel stance, further polarizing the region.
The Houthis’ Red Sea campaign has disrupted 15% of global maritime trade, inflating shipping costs and contributing to economic pressures worldwide. The International Maritime Organization reported that attacks on vessels have caused at least three sailor deaths and stranded over 60 crew members in Houthi-controlled waters. The U.S. has designated the Houthis a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group, imposing sanctions to cut off their financial networks, though enforcement remains challenging due to Iran’s covert support.
Humanitarian and Diplomatic Fallout
The United Nations has warned that Israel’s strikes on Houthi infrastructure, particularly Hodeidah port, risk exacerbating Yemen’s humanitarian crisis, where 24 million people—75% of the population—face food insecurity. The port’s partial closure has delayed aid shipments, with UNICEF reporting a 30% drop in food deliveries to northern Yemen in May 2025. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for “all parties to prioritize de-escalation and protect civilian infrastructure,” urging renewed diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region.
The Houthis remain defiant, with leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi declaring on June 10, 2025, that attacks on Israel will continue “until the Zionist aggression in Gaza ends.” Their ability to sustain operations despite heavy losses highlights Iran’s role in replenishing their arsenal. Meanwhile, Israel’s government faces domestic pressure to neutralize the Houthi threat while balancing its ongoing conflicts with Hamas and Hezbollah.
A Ticking Regional Timebomb
As the Houthi-Israel conflict escalates, the risk of a wider regional war looms. Iran’s support for the Houthis has drawn scrutiny from Saudi Arabia, which has fought the rebels since 2015 and now faces a delicate balancing act as it seeks to mend ties with Tehran. The U.S. and Israel, wary of Iran’s growing influence, are pushing for stronger international measures to curb the Houthis’ capabilities, though diplomatic efforts have so far yielded little progress.
“The Houthis are a symptom of a larger struggle between Iran and its adversaries,” said Dr. Amira Halperin, a Middle East analyst. “Their attacks on Israel are less about Gaza and more about projecting Iran’s power. This is a dangerous escalation with no easy resolution.” As the cycle of strikes and counterstrikes continues, the Middle East remains on edge, with the Houthis’ Iranian-backed campaign threatening to ignite a broader conflict.
