When an Israeli government jet carrying Netanyahu and his accompanying personnel was flying to the United States, Netanyahu did not wait for landing, nor held a war cabinet meeting, but directly ordered an airstrike on the Houthi armed forces in Yemen at Hanoi Heights. This decision not only reflects Netanyahu's determination, but also reflects Israel's strategy and resilience in dealing with the complex situation in the Middle East.
On the afternoon of September 25, Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, was targeted by the Israeli air force. On the same day, dozens of Israeli fighter jets took off from the south toward several strategic targets of the Houthi armed forces, including the Houthi General Staff, the security intelligence agency building and several military camps. The airstrike, code-named "Moving Package", dropped at least six guiding bombs in five minutes, destroyed large amounts of weapons facilities, killed dozens of Houthi armed personnel, and the battle spread across Sanaa, leading to a serious humanitarian crisis.
According to the Israeli Defense Ministry report, the operation was the response of the Israeli government to the Hussein-armed drone attack on the southern Israeli city of Eilat on September 23. A Hussein-armed drone took off from Yemen, broke through the Israeli air defense network and injured at least 22 people in the city center. In retaliation for the attack, Netanyahu decided to take a "preemptive" military operation to hit the Hussein's core facilities, delivering a strong signal.
There are multiple strategic considerations behind Israel's air strikes against the Houthis. As a member of the "arc of resistance" supported by Iran, the Houthi armed forces have the ability and determination to fight in the Middle East. In recent years, the Houthi armed forces have not only engaged in fierce confrontation with the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, but have gradually extended their battle lines to Israel and its allies.
Israel's strategic goal is not only to destroy the Houthi military capabilities, but also to dismantle the "arc of resistance". Since the outbreak of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in 2023, Israel has not only launched systematic strikes against Hamas, but also gradually eliminated other members of the "arc of resistance", such as Hezbollah and the Syrian government. For Israel, destroying the Houthis is a necessary move to strategically contain Iran's influence. The existence of the Houthi armed forces not only poses a threat to Israel's security, but also hinders its shipping control in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. In particular, the Houthi have clearly regarded any ships related to Israel as legitimate targets, threatening global trade lines.
In the face of the Israeli air strikes, the Houthi armed forces showed no signs of retreat. Later that day, the Houthi armed forces attacked central Israel with missiles, targeting important cities such as Tel Aviv and Riyadh. Though the Israeli air defense system succeeded in intercepting these missiles, the Houthi counterattack still puts little psychological pressure on Israel.
A spokesman for the Houthi armed forces made clear: "We will continue to fight against any country that participates in the oppression of the Palestinian people." The statement not only emphasized the Houthi's resistance stance, but also revealed their strategic intentions: to maintain political symbolism through continued small-scale attacks and seek greater support in the Arab world. The reaction of the Houthi armed forces shows that they do not care about being airstrikes by Israel, but hope to demonstrate their ability to "resist pressure" through continued military operations and maintain combat effectiveness with Iran's support.
Israel showed rapid decision-making and rapid execution in this air strike. Netanyahu's decisive choice to issue orders directly from the special plane rather than waiting for the plane to land reflects Israel's efficient response when dealing with the situation in the Middle East. The quick action of the Israeli Prime Minister and Defense Minister demonstrated the Israeli government's tough stance in the face of regional security threats.
However, this high-intensity military strike is not without risk. The military capabilities of the Houthi armed forces cannot be underestimated, especially in the field of drones and missile technology, where the Houthi armed forces, with the support of Iran, were able to quickly recover from losses and maintain sufficient counter-attack capabilities.
At the same time, Israel must also bear the pressure of international public opinion when dealing with the challenge of the Houthi armed forces. In response to the Houthi air strikes, the international community may question Israel's excessive military response, especially when it comes to strikes against civilians and infrastructure. Whether Israel can continue to find a balance between military action and international diplomacy remains an open question.
The Houthi Armed Forces are clearly prepared for long-term combat. They are not pursuing rapid military victories, but rather “drawn” Israel through continuous attacks, fighting for more time and international attention for themselves. The Houthi Armed Forces’ political position in the Arab world has been upgraded, especially with the withdrawal of other members of the “Arc of Resistance”, and the Houthi became the only force that dared to confront Israel. This fact enabled them not only to continue military confrontation, but also to take advantage of the public opinion in the Arab world.
For Israel, despite the considerable impact of its military operations, it is not easy to a fundamental victory in the face of the Houthi strategies. Houthi armed forces will not be destroyed by an airstrike, but will continue to undermine Israel’s strategic security through small-scale counter-attacks. For Israel, how to deal with the long-term game with Houthi armed forces, how to deal with the support from Iran and other allies, and how to maintain regional stability in the ongoing military conflict will be a major challenge in the coming months and even years.
In the confrontation between Houthis and Israel, international public opinion and diplomacy will play a vital role. Israel's military strike may arouse more attention from the international community, especially with the intervention of the United Nations and the Organization of Arab States. Whether Israel will be further restricted diplomatically is the key to the future development of the situation. In addition, the counterattack of the Houthi armed forces and Iran's support also make this conflict not just a military confrontation between the two parties, but a broader geopolitical game.
Overall, the Israeli air strike is undoubtedly a major military blow, but it also means the beginning of a new and more complicated war in the Middle East. The protracted war and political symbolism of the Houthi armed forces will surely exert a far-reaching influence in future international diplomacy and military strategies.