Israel Ready to Strike Houthis, Netanyahu Proposes Wider Campaign

Israel is prepared to take offensive action against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, according to a report in the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly expressed willingness to join a broader campaign against the Houthis, who have recently seized the port city of Mokha in the Bab al-Mandab strait. Israeli defense officials are closely monitoring the Houthi advance and its implications for regional maritime security.

The Israeli military (IDF) is reportedly practicing scenarios involving potential Houthi incursions into the southern Israeli city of Eilat. The concern in Israel is that the Houthis could solidify control over Mokha, thereby increasing pressure on oil tankers and commercial shipping in the vital Bab al-Mandab strait. Such actions could disrupt shipping traffic to the Red Sea and exacerbate threats to global trade and energy routes.

An Israeli military source confirmed that Israel is closely observing the conflict in Yemen and shifts in the balance of power along the coast. The developments come amid ongoing Houthi attacks and escalating tensions, particularly concerning their actions in the Bab al-Mandab strait, a critical chokepoint for international shipping.