The Iranian-backed Houthis have intensified missile attacks on Israel, undeterred by Israeli airstrikes or threats.

Axar.az, in an analysis published in JPost, reports that despite Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Israel Katz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, vowing harsh retaliation, past efforts to weaken the Houthis have proven ineffective.

The Houthis, unlike conventional state actors, operate like a state while being a militant group, disrupting Red Sea shipping and attacking Israel with relative impunity. Their experience fighting Saudi Arabia, their mountainous terrain, and Iranian support have made them resilient.

Precision airstrikes alone may not be enough to defeat the Houthis, as history shows similar challenges in past conflicts, including the Gulf War. Lessons from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran may not directly apply to Yemen’s complex battlefield.

To stop the Houthis, Israel may need a more serious and strategic response, as they currently feel emboldened while Israeli civilians face growing threats.