A high-ranking Yemeni official from the Saudi-backed Houthi-opposing government in the south of Yemen told Israel Hayom that Israel's response to the recent Houthi missile launch should include "providing our ground forces with advanced weaponry." The official emphasized that any Israeli action should target major military assets, matching the scale of the July strike on Al-Hodeidah port.
Commenting on Sunday's Houthi ballistic missile attack, the official stated: "We're locked in a conflict with a terrorist militia that only responds to lethal force when challenged. It's high time the global community shakes off its complacency and backs our troops on the ground. Only then can we eradicate this terrorist outfit, which is cut from the same cloth as ISIS and al-Qaida."
Video: Footage released by the Houthis allegedly showing the missile launched on Sunday
Yemen has been torn by civil strife since 2015. The official hails from the Southern Transitional Council, a faction represented in the Saudi-aligned Presidential Council. This group currently holds sway over the strategic port of Aden and portions of southern Yemen. The Council's ultimate goal is to resurrect the state of South Yemen, which merged with the North in 1990. However, the Houthi threat has compelled the movement to align with the Saudi-backed government and participate in the Presidential Council.
US approach less urgent than Israel's
For an extended period, the US spearheaded a Western alliance that targeted Houthi assets in Yemen, including missile launchers, armaments, and military installations. However, the Yemeni official remains unimpressed, labeling the Biden administration's campaign as "largely ineffective and lacking focus." Responding to queries about potential US reluctance to support southern forces, they remarked: "I suspect this issue doesn't resonate with the Americans as deeply as it does with you Israelis. After all, we both bear the brunt of these terrorist factions' existence."
On a related note, Mohammed al-Buhaiti, a Houthi political bureau member, claimed on Monday that the Yemeni militia had received "enticing offers" from the US and the UK via intermediaries. These allegedly included governmental recognition in exchange for halting Red Sea attacks, yet this assertion lacks corroboration from other sources. Al-Buhaiti further stated that the Houthis maintain ongoing coordination with Gaza's Hamas, on whose behalf they initiated vessel attacks in the Red Sea in October, aiming to pressure an end to the war. These assaults have disrupted one of the world's critical trade arteries, which provides a shorter route to Western markets and the Mediterranean.
Another security expert well-versed in Yemeni affairs told Israel Hayom: "There's a growing consensus among Middle Eastern nations that Houthi actions are destabilizing the region and inflicting economic harm." Egypt and Jordan, for instance, have suffered financial setbacks due to diminished maritime traffic through the Suez Canal and Red Sea.
Nevertheless, the official noted that Arab states have refrained from joining the US-led international coalition against the Houthis. He explained that the coalition's objectives were primarily defensive, aimed at containing the militia rather than fundamentally altering the status quo. Consequently, Saudi Arabia and the UAE perceive more risks than benefits in aligning with such a coalition. Riyadh is prioritizing stability to support Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 initiative, while the UAE is wary of Houthi attacks potentially crippling its tourism sector.
The security expert further elaborated: "The Houthis are grappling with severe economic challenges, locked in a financial tug-of-war with Gulf states, while also vying for popular support within Yemen. Their aggression towards Israel serves as a means to rally backing." He projected that the Houthi issue would persist even after the conclusion of the war in Gaza.
