Houthi rebels fired a ballistic missile at Israel on Monday, marking the latest in their ongoing attempts to attack the country. The group has used rockets and drones in attacks over the last months, showing no signs of backing down despite other Iranian proxies receiving significant losses.
The Houthis believe they are safe from Israeli retaliation due to their location in Yemen’s mountains around Sanaa. They claim it would be difficult for Israel to replicate the same level of precision airstrikes that were used against Hezbollah in Lebanon. The group has used this tactic successfully in its war with Saudi Arabia, which ended after Riyadh intervened in 2015.
Houthi attacks have proven challenging to stop due to their long-range capabilities and difficulty in detecting launches. This was evident during the 1991 Gulf War, when US-led forces struggled to find Scud missile launchers in Iraq. The Houthis have since improved their technology with Iranian backing, making it harder for Israel to counter their attacks.
The recent Houthi attack affected an area of over two million people in and around Tel Aviv, prompting a US Central Command airstrike against a key command center in Sanaa. However, precision airstrikes are unlikely to deter the Houthis, who have resources underground and are willing to wait it out.
Targeting their leadership could be a new tactic to consider. This approach has been successful against Hezbollah’s leadership, but it is unclear if the Houthis would respond similarly. The group’s arrogance may make them believe they can get away with anything, leading to uncertainty about what will stop their attacks.
Source: https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-833820