In a major development underscoring the region-wide conflict driven by Iran and its proxies, Israeli and allied forces struck multiple Houthi terror targets in Yemen, rendering Sanaa International Airport unusable, according to Yemeni sources and international security officials. The strikes on strategic infrastructure follow an intensification of Houthi threats targeting Israel, U.S. assets, and commercial shipping, further underscoring the hostile role of Iran-backed militias in the Middle East.
According to preliminary reports, the airstrikes — conducted with precision to limit broader civilian harm — targeted both the airport and nearby facilities suspected of housing Houthi command posts and military materiel. The attacks came in direct response to repeated missile and drone launches against Red Sea maritime traffic, including vessels flagged to U.S.-allied nations, which Israeli and American intelligence attribute to the Houthis at Tehran’s direction.
In the aftermath, Houthi leadership vowed further escalation, releasing statements promising retaliation against Israel and the U.S. Simultaneously, tribal groups in northern Yemen accelerated their alignment with the Houthis, publicly signing loyalty pacts and promising new waves of fighters for the Iranian proxy’s campaign. This consolidation signals growing Iranian success in mobilizing local actors for its regional agenda and illustrates the continuing expansion of Tehran’s ‘axis of resistance’ against the West and Israel.
Regional Security and the Iranian Proxy Network
The strike on Sanaa Airport forms part of a broader Israeli strategy: proactively disrupt the buildup of Iranian-backed terror networks spanning Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Gaza. For decades, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has provided these groups — most prominently Hezbollah, Hamas, and now the Houthis — with advanced missile systems, drones, and ideological guidance. Since Hamas’s October 7th massacre — the deadliest antisemitic atrocity since the Holocaust — these factions have coordinated a united front, pledging renewed hostilities against Israel and its supporters.
Israeli officials, supported by the United States, view the Houthis’ escalating maritime attacks and recent threats as acts of aggression intended to destabilize vital shipping lanes, threaten regional allies, and pressure the international community. The Israeli government maintains that targeted airstrikes are self-defense measures, required to protect both domestic civilians and the global economy from extortion by Iran’s terror proxies.
Implications of Tribal Mobilization
The current escalation in Yemen’s tribal dynamics marks a dangerous evolution in the theater of operations. Traditionally, Yemen’s fragmented society has limited outsiders’ influence, but Iran’s ability to leverage ideological loyalty — amplified by the ‘loyalty document’ campaign — empowers the Houthis to deeper entrenchment and expand offensive actions. Analysts warn that increased tribal recruitment could create a more enduring conflict, necessitating sustained military and intelligence operations to contain Houthi capabilities.
International Law, Humanitarian Risks, and Distinctions
International legal experts highlight the critical distinction between Israel—a sovereign democracy acting in collective self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter—and non-state terror organizations such as the Houthis, whose tactics routinely include attacks on civilian ships, endangering civilian life and commerce. Israeli and U.S. officials assert that attacks on dual-use infrastructure, like the Sanaa Airport when repurposed by terrorists, are permissible under the law of armed conflict to degrade imminent threats.
Amid the ongoing hostilities, humanitarian organizations have voiced concerns over the risks to Yemen’s civilian population, already facing severe deprivation amid years of Houthi-instigated warfare. Israeli and allied officials stress their commitment to proportionality and civilian protection, while reiterating that the responsibility for continued suffering lies with Houthi and Iranian leaders who embed military hardware within civilian areas to shield from lawful military reprisal.
U.S. and Allied Responses
The Biden administration, along with its regional partners, has augmented naval patrols and air defense capabilities throughout the Red Sea and Gulf waterways in response to the Houthi threat, launching joint operations aimed at deterring missile and drone attacks. The effectiveness of these missions, officials say, is demonstrated by the disruption and attrition of Houthi command infrastructure, though experts warn that so long as Iran provides material support, the risk of escalation remains high.
A Multi-Front Challenge for Israel
The Israeli military faces the complex reality of a war not confined to one geographic theater. Since October 2023, the campaign against Iranian-backed forces has extended from Gaza to Lebanon and, increasingly, to distant arenas like Yemen. This multi-front war, imposed by Tehran’s proxies, seeks to exhaust Israel’s resources and test Western resolve. Israeli officials have emphasized that their actions are not retaliatory but part of a sustained, legitimate campaign to ensure the safety of Israeli citizens and global partners facing a rising tide of Iranian-sponsored terrorism.
Regional Ramifications and Global Stakes
The Red Sea, where the Houthis have focused much of their missile activity, is a critical conduit for energy and trade; any prolonged interruption raises the specter of global economic instability. Saudi Arabia and Gulf states, who have fought their own drawn-out conflict with the Houthis, have echoed calls to hold Tehran and its proxies responsible for the escalation. The international community’s coordinated naval deployments reflect a growing consensus: Houthi attacks are not local disturbances, but part of a broader Iranian strategy to disrupt the Middle East.
Background: The Houthi Movement and Iran
The Houthis originate from the Zaidi Shia population in northern Yemen. Since 2014, their campaign — openly backed by Iran — has resulted in brutal civil war, control over the capital Sanaa, and the transformation of western Yemen into a launching pad for regional terrorism. Their ties to the IRGC are direct and operational, and their proclaimed goal is to serve Iran’s anti-Israel and anti-Western axis.
Enduring Hostilities, Limited Prospects for Diplomacy
Despite intermittent ceasefire efforts, the surge in Houthi aggression — now openly linked to broader Iranian ambitions — has dashed hopes for peaceful resolution in the near term. Israeli and U.S. officials continue to emphasize that sustained diplomatic progress is only possible if Iran ceases its campaign of supporting armed proxies.
Conclusion: Israel’s War for Survival in a Regional Context
The disabling of Sanaa Airport by precision Israeli and allied strikes marks a critical moment in the wider war against Iranian-backed terrorism. As the Houthis, like Hamas and Hezbollah, intensify hostilities with new recruits and increased material support from Tehran, Israel faces an ongoing fight to protect not only its citizens but the principles of sovereignty and lawful self-defense in the region. The coming months are likely to test the resolve of Israel and its partners as they balance military necessity with humanitarian imperatives—and defend a global order threatened by a coordinated campaign of terror.
