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Edited by: Fern Sidman
In a significant escalation of hostilities in the Red Sea region, the United States military launched multiple strikes on Houthi-controlled targets in Yemen on December 30 and 31, according to a Jerusalem Post report that appeared on Tuesday. These strikes targeted key military assets, including command and control facilities, missile production sites, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) storage centers. The strikes underscore growing tensions in the region as the Iran-backed Houthi group continues its campaign against US Navy ships, commercial vessels, and Israel.
The JPost report cited a press release from US Central Command (CENTCOM), which confirmed that US Navy ships and Air Force assets conducted the strikes. According to CENTCOM, the targeted facilities were central to Houthi operations, which have included attacks on US Navy warships and international merchant vessels navigating the critical shipping lanes of the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
In addition to striking Houthi command hubs, the US military reportedly destroyed a coastal radar installation, seven cruise missiles, and one-way attack UAVs over the Red Seat. These preemptive actions are part of ongoing efforts to disrupt the Houthi group’s operational capabilities and reduce the threat to global shipping and regional security.
Reports emerged of significant explosions in Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, on Tuesday. Initially, speculation arose regarding the origin of these blasts, but the report in The JPost confirmed that they were not the result of an Israeli airstrike, as some early reports had suggested. Instead, the explosions were directly linked to the ongoing US military campaign against Houthi targets.
Following the strikes, Mohammed Abdul Salam, a spokesperson for the Houthis, vowed that Yemen would continue to defend itself against foreign military actions. The JPost report quoted Abdul Salam as saying that the strikes would not deter the group from continuing their operations.
Parallel to the US strikes, the Houthis launched an intensified series of missile attacks, including an attempt to target Ben-Gurion Airport and a power station in Jerusalem. The Jerusalem Post report noted that while the Houthis claimed “successful hits,” these missiles were intercepted by the Israel Air Force (IAF) before they reached Israeli territory.
The missile interceptions triggered air raid sirens across central Israel, temporarily disrupting flight operations at Ben-Gurion Airport. Takeoffs and landings were halted but resumed within an hour, minimizing disruption to civilian air travel, as reported by The JPost.
The Jerusalem Post emphasized that the Houthis have been actively attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea for over a year. These attacks are framed by the group as acts of solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The Houthis have justified their blockade attempts as a form of pressure on Israel, attempting to isolate the country economically and logistically.
Furthermore, the JPost report indicated the broader geopolitical dynamics at play, with Iran’s backing of the Houthi group serving as a crucial factor in their sustained military activities. Tehran’s financial, logistical, and intelligence support has allowed the Houthis to maintain and even escalate their operations against US and Israeli interests.
The JPost referenced reports suggesting that the recent US military action in Yemen was conducted in coordination with the United Kingdom. This reflects an increasing alignment between Western allies in responding to the growing Houthi threat in the region.
The coordinated strikes also indicate a shift in strategy, moving from defensive measures against incoming missiles and UAVs to proactive attacks on Houthi infrastructure and logistical hubs.
While the objective of the military strikes focus on degrading Houthi capabilities, the JPost emphasized the growing humanitarian toll of the conflict. Yemen remains one of the world’s most vulnerable nations, with widespread hunger, disease, and displacement affecting millions. The recent escalation raises concerns about further destabilization and the potential for civilian casualties as military operations intensify.
While the US strikes have delivered a significant blow to Houthi infrastructure, the group’s resilience and continued attacks demonstrate that the conflict is far from over. The Houthis remain a formidable force, with access to advanced weaponry and unwavering support from Iran.
The situation in the Red Sea, with its critical importance to global trade, remains precarious. The JPost suggests that without a broader diplomatic solution or a significant shift in the balance of power, hostilities are likely to continue, threatening not only regional but also global security.
Despite ongoing ceasefires and international military interventions, Israel remains under persistent threat from multiple fronts. As was detailed in The Jerusalem Post report, an 18-year-old girl sustained mild injuries after being struck by a car while heading to a shelter during an alert. Alongside physical injuries, several individuals are being treated for panic attacks, highlighting the toll of prolonged insecurity on Israeli civilians.
While a temporary ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon remains in effect and US-led coalition forces have carried out strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, neither Hezbollah nor the Houthis appear deterred from continuing their hostile activities, The JPost report noted. Each group, however, presents unique strategic and geographical challenges for Israel, complicating its defense posture.
The JPost report underscored Hezbollah’s warnings about the expiration of the 60-day ceasefire, which began in late November. A key Hezbollah official, Mahmoud Komati, recently told Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV that the group is prepared to respond to any Israeli “violations” of the truce. Komati emphasized that “Day 61 will be different” if Israeli forces do not withdraw from southern Lebanon.
This declaration signals Hezbollah’s readiness to resume hostilities, despite the significant losses it suffered during the two-month conflict from September to November. Israel estimates that Hezbollah lost thousands of fighters and a substantial portion of its rocket stockpile during the fighting. However, Hezbollah continues to assert that it maintains a considerable arsenal and the operational capability to launch renewed attacks.
Komati also stressed Hezbollah’s refusal to allow external interference in its reconstruction plans or its military “red lines.” These statements, according to the report in The JPost, align with Iran’s broader strategy of using Hezbollah as a proxy force to exert pressure on Israel.
The Houthi Threat
The Houthi rebels in Yemen pose a distinct challenge to Israel, primarily through the use of long-range ballistic missiles and drones. The JPost report noted that the Houthis continue to launch these weapons despite US and coalition airstrikes targeting their command centers, missile storage facilities, and UAV production sites.
While Yemen is geographically distant from Israel, the Houthis have demonstrated their ability to strike targets deep within Israeli territory. Their attacks often coincide with broader regional escalations, underscoring their role as part of Iran’s axis of resistance.
Israel is simultaneously contending with threats from Hezbollah in the north, Hamas in Gaza, and the Houthis in Yemen. The Judea and Samaria region also remains volatile, with periodic escalations threatening to spiral into broader violence.
The silver lining, according to The JPost report, is the apparent reduction in threats from Iraqi militias. These militias, also backed by Iran, have scaled down their rhetoric and activities against Israel in recent months. Additionally, Iran’s diminished ability to station forces in Syria—due to the weakening of the Assad regime—has limited Tehran’s capacity to open another front against Israel from Syrian territory.
However, the persistence of rocket fire from Hamas and ongoing tensions created by Hamas operatives in Judea and Samaria continue to create a highly unstable security environment. The JPost report emphasized that Israel’s military and intelligence services remain on high alert, aware that any misstep or perceived provocation could trigger renewed fighting on multiple fronts.
Beyond the military and geopolitical dimensions the profound psychological impact these threats have on Israeli civilians are becoming part of the daily reality in Israel. The injury of an 18-year-old girl while rushing to a shelter serves as a stark reminder of the day-to-day risks faced by ordinary citizens. Additionally, the growing number of people being treated for panic attacks reflects the cumulative mental toll of living under constant threat.
The Houthis have vowed to continue their aggression. According to the information provided in The JPost report, a senior member of Yemen’s Ansarullah political bureau declared that the group would persist in its campaign against Israel, framing their missile launches as acts of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Furthermore, the Houthis have called upon the United Nations Security Council to condemn what they describe as “American terrorism” and “the crimes of the Zionist regime.”
This rhetoric speaks volumes about the Houthis’ continued commitment to their regional objectives, despite repeated military setbacks.
The report in The JPost emphasized the Houthis’ strategic approach to regional conflict, relying heavily on long-range ballistic missiles and UAVs to extend their operational reach. While Yemen is geographically distant from Israel, the Houthis have demonstrated their capability to strike Israeli targets, posing an ongoing threat to Israeli security.
By leveraging Iran’s support, the Houthis have maintained a robust stockpile of advanced weaponry, allowing them to continue their attacks despite sustained airstrikes by both the US and Israeli militaries. These attacks are part of a broader strategy by Iran and its proxies to exert pressure on Israel and disrupt regional stability.
Parallel to the strikes in Yemen, Israel has been actively targeting Hezbollah assets in southern Lebanon. According to the information contained in The JPost report, IDF troops from the 769th Brigade, operating under the command of the 91st Division, recently uncovered and dismantled a significant weapons storage facility in the Saluki area of southern Lebanon.
The facility housed an arsenal of rocket launchers, missiles, and explosive devices. Additionally, nearby raids uncovered further caches of weapons, including dozens of AK-47 rifles, grenades, wire-guided missiles, surveillance equipment, and tactical combat gear. All discovered weapons were confiscated and dismantled, eliminating a potential threat to Israeli forces and civilian areas.
In a separate operation, the IDF reported the destruction of a 100-meter-long underground tunnel used by Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force. The JPost report said that the tunnel was discovered during operational activities led by the 300th Brigade under the 146th Division. Engineering forces collaborated to destroy the tunnel, neutralizing another critical piece of Hezbollah’s military infrastructure.
Despite the ongoing ceasefire, enacted in late November, these discoveries and subsequent operations indicate Hezbollah’s continued preparations for future hostilities. Hezbollah’s ongoing defiance and operational readiness was noted in The JPost report, further drawing attention to the fragility of the current truce.
Both Hezbollah and the Houthis operate as extensions of Iran’s regional strategy. The JPost report explained that Iran uses these proxy forces to project power, destabilize adversaries, and deter Israeli and US influence in the region.
The ongoing strikes and operations have broader humanitarian and geopolitical implications. In Yemen, airstrikes risk exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis, where millions remain at risk of hunger and disease. In Lebanon, Hezbollah’s entrenchment in civilian areas raises the specter of significant collateral damage in the event of renewed hostilities.
Hostage Negotiations
In a recent closed meeting regarding ongoing hostage negotiations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made it unequivocally clear that military operations in Gaza would resume following any ceasefire agreement with Hamas. As reported by The Jewish News Syndicate on Tuesday. Netanyahu emphasized that the continuation of military action is essential to achieving Israel’s stated war objectives and ensuring long-term security for the nation.
According to the JNS report, Netanyahu stated that any temporary ceasefire would not signify the end of the conflict but rather a tactical pause aimed at facilitating hostage releases. “If there is a deal—and I hope there will be—Israel will return to fighting afterward. There’s no reason to obscure or conceal this because resuming fighting is intended to complete the war’s objectives. This doesn’t obstruct a deal; it encourages one,” Netanyahu was quoted as saying.
The JNS report highlighted that Netanyahu’s position is rooted in Israel’s three core war goals: 1) Eradicating Hamas as both a military and political entity. 2) Bringing all hostages home safely.3) Preventing Gaza from re-emerging as a security threat to Israel.
These objectives, according to JNS, remain non-negotiable for the Israeli leadership, even as international pressure mounts for a lasting ceasefire.
JNS further reported that current negotiations for the release of 34 hostages are stalled due to Hamas’s refusal to release 12 individuals, instead offering to return their bodies. A Palestinian source told JNS that Hamas is willing to release 22 live hostages but remains insistent on substituting the remaining 12 with deceased individuals.
Netanyahu has outright rejected this proposal, reinforcing his commitment to bringing all hostages home alive, according to JNS. The proposed agreement had initially included a list of 34 hostages to be transferred during the first phase of any ceasefire. However, Hamas’s unwillingness to comply with the outlined terms has led to a deadlock.
Approximately 100 hostages remain in Gaza, with Israel assessing that 64 of them are still alive. This reality adds urgency to the ongoing negotiations and underscores the complexity of balancing humanitarian goals with strategic military objectives.
The JNS report indicated that Hamas continues to demand international guarantees for the later stages of any ceasefire agreement. This includes a permanent end to military operations and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. These demands remain fundamentally incompatible with Netanyahu’s vision for post-war Gaza, as he has repeatedly emphasized the necessity of dismantling Hamas’s military and governing capabilities.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal on December 20, Netanyahu made it clear: “I’m not going to agree to end the war before we remove Hamas. We’re not going to leave them in power in Gaza, 30 miles from Tel Aviv. It’s not going to happen.”
This sentiment, as JNS explained, forms the backbone of Israel’s current military and diplomatic strategy.
While Netanyahu’s position reflects Israel’s steadfast approach to national security, the JNS report noted that some negotiators have expressed concerns that his hardline stance may complicate ongoing talks. Hamas’s insistence on international guarantees and Netanyahu’s rejection of any compromise on military objectives create a challenging landscape for negotiators.
At the same time, Netanyahu’s clear articulation of Israel’s objectives is intended to signal both to Hamas and to international mediators that any agreement must align with Israel’s long-term security requirements.
For Israel, the current conflict is not just about achieving short-term tactical victories but about ensuring that Gaza cannot be used as a launchpad for future attacks against Israeli cities. Netanyahu’s government sees no viable alternative to military dominance in Gaza until these objectives are fully realized.
