Defense Ministry Director General Amir Baram warned on Thursday that Houthi forces from Yemen, or militias from Iraq, could try to infiltrate Israel by land. Speaking at a strategy workshop for dozens of deputy directors general from government ministries and security bodies, he said any such attempt could come through Israel’s eastern border, which he described as “the most sensitive area today in security terms.” Baram said, “The militias in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen are absolutely a threat,” adding, “Even if they are far away, they have the ability to infiltrate Israel on the ground.”
The concern is not new to Israeli security officials. The report says the Houthis have sought to offset the geographic distance by working closely with members of the Iranian-backed “axis of resistance,” especially militias in Iraq and Syria. Houthi leader Abdul-Malik has previously said, “We will surprise Israel on the ground as we surprised it at sea.”
The article also cites a September 2024 report that about 50 Houthi fighters, specialists in missile launches, arrived in southern Syria under the auspices of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and the Syrian army, with the aim of striking Israel from short range. It notes that this was not the first time the Houthis moved closer to Israel’s border, saying they were sent to fight alongside Assad during the Syrian civil war as part of their training by Iran.
According to a report by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, since the start of the war in Gaza, the Houthis have carried out a series of military exercises simulating attacks inside Israel. One drill included infantry and armored forces practicing strikes on Israeli targets.
