Israel’s Yemen attack against Houthis warning to nuclear Iran

TEL AVIV — Israel’s July 20 bombing of Yemen’s Red Sea port of Hodeidah was meant as a message to Iran, showcasing the long and destructive reach of Israeli fighter jets, more than an attempt to deter the Houthi rebels controlling the site.

In fact, Israeli security officials estimate that the attack, which set off raging fires, killing at least six people and wounding dozens of others, will not deter the Houthis from harassing Israel, perhaps even on an increasing scale, as they have been doing for months. Reflecting this assessment, just hours after the strike, the Houthis fired a missile at the Israeli Red Sea port of Eilat, which was intercepted by Israel’s Arrow anti-missile system.

“They have been at war with all their surroundings for many years and know how to absorb bombs and casualties,” a senior Israeli security source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. “The Houthis are a strange enemy. The usual rules of deterrence do not apply. Only a great deal of damage will deter them.”

Nonetheless, added the security source, Israel had no choice but to respond to the Houthi missile that struck the heart of Tel Aviv two days earlier, killing one city resident and wounding eight.