Rare Admission: Israel Fails to Contain the Houthis
NYN| Reports and analyses
After a long period of disregard, Israeli media have begun to acknowledge that airstrikes on Yemen have neither weakened the capabilities of the Sanaa-based forces nor stopped their attacks. The Hebrew-language newspaper The Jerusalem Post reported that the Israeli Air Force has failed to deter the Houthis (Ansar Allah), despite launching six retaliatory airstrikes so far.
In a report published on Saturday, the newspaper stated that the Houthis (Ansar Allah) have once again succeeded in launching missile and drone attacks on Israeli targets, confirming that their military infrastructure has not been significantly impacted by Israeli bombings.
Escalation Continues… Despite Everything
According to the newspaper, the Houthis (Ansar Allah) are picking up where Iran left off—suggesting that Sanaa continues targeting Israel even when Tehran temporarily halts its escalation. This reinforces the view that the Houthis possess independent operational decision-making.
The report added that the strikes on Yemen have failed to achieve their objectives, noting that the attacks caused no major damage and did not succeed in disrupting the Houthis’ missile and drone programs. As a result, the group has been able to maintain the pace of its military operations toward Israeli territory.
Strategic Failure or Miscalculation?
Observers note that the Israeli media’s discussion of the “failure of airstrikes” marks a rare acknowledgment from within Israel that the battle in the Red Sea has become more complex than expected. While Israel had counted on swift deterrence, the Sanaa forces have demonstrated a high degree of flexibility and adaptability.
After the Admission
With this Israeli media recognition, questions arise about the next step: Is Israel preparing for a larger escalation against Yemen? Or will its inability to alter Sanaa’s calculus push it toward de-escalation or repositioning?
In either case, it appears that the Red Sea front is no longer a marginal theater in Israeli military calculations—but has instead become a genuine war of attrition for Israel.
