Engaged in attack: Houthis intensify strikes on Israel amid truce in Lebanon
The Houthis have intensified shelling of Israel after the announcement of a truce in Lebanon. The Yemeni movement Ansar Allah told Izvestia. It said that the strikes are aimed at filling the vacuum created after Hezbollah ceased shelling the Jewish state. A few days ago, US ships were attacked with missiles and UAVs, the movement said. In addition, the Houthis called on the new Syrian authorities to join forces to confront the Jewish state. Against this background, ceasefire talks in the Gaza Strip intensified.
The Houthis have intensified their strikes against Israel
The Ansar Allah movement intensified its strikes on Israel after the ceasefire in Lebanon. Mohammed al-Farah, a member of the political bureau of the Houthi movement, told Izvestia.
On November 26, a truce between the Jewish state and the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah became known. The agreement provided for the Lebanese army to regain control of the southern parts of the country within 60 days, after which IDF soldiers would gradually be withdrawn from Lebanese territory.
- Of course, the cease-fire in Lebanon came as a surprise. Abdel Malik al-Husi (leader of the Hussite movement. - "Izvestia") gave a general directive to all formations and types of missile forces, unmanned systems forces and air defense to intensify operations. He wants to fill any vacuum, seeks to stop the aggressive war in the Gaza Strip, as well as to raise the morale of brothers in Gaza so that they do not feel that they are fighting alone," Mohammed al-Farah told Izvestia.
According to him, the Houthis carried out strikes using 16 ballistic and cruise missiles and UAVs a few days ago.
- It was a serious operation and it was also carried out against American ships. Strikes continue, including in the Red Sea, - told the movement.
Recall, on December 1, Ansar Allah attacked with missiles and UAVs a US destroyer and US army supply ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. On Dec. 10, the Houthis repeated attacks on U.S. ships in the Gulf of Aden. In addition, strikes have also been carried out deep into Israeli territory.
After the unprecedented escalation in the Gaza Strip, the ruling Ansar Allah movement in northern Yemen declared its support for Palestine and warned that it would bombard any ships associated with Israel. At the same time, the Houthis assured that they would not interfere with the movement of Russian ships in the Red Sea. On October 19, 2023, the Houthis went to war against Israel, sending several rockets and drones in its direction.
- We have been opposing Israel since day one, even before the direct aggression against Lebanon. Since October 7, 2023 (the beginning of the escalation in Gaza. - "Izvestia"), we have been using the maximum to support the Gaza Strip. We have been working on this basis since day one," Mohammed al-Farah said.
In November 2023, the Houthis announced the closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait for ships associated with the Jewish state, after which they detained the Galaxy Leader, a ship owned by an Israeli businessman. Already in December, the U.S. decided to respond to the increasing attacks of the Houthis and announced the launch of Operation "Guardian of Prosperity" - U.S. and British troops began to conduct regular air strikes on the territory of Yemen.
- It was decided to intensify operations and support Gaza. I think that the intensification of hostilities was intended to fill the vacuum. At the same time, I do not belittle the role of Hezbollah, it sacrificed what was most valuable to it, its leader Hassan Nasrallah, the rest of the military leaders, hundreds of fighters," the Houthi spokesman said.
Yemeni political analyst Sand al-Sayyadi explained to Izvestia that the continuation of operations by the Houthis - especially in light of the escalating conflict in Syria - reflects the desire of the military and political leadership to return the public's focus to Gaza.
- This is a signal to regional and international powers that Yemen, despite the pressure, has the ability to influence the balance of power in the Middle East, and Israel will by no means be left alone with Gaza," the expert said.
The situation in the Red Sea
The escalation complicates the already difficult settlement process in Yemen. The republic remains divided between the three largest political forces. The alliance led by the Houthi movement "Ansar Allah" is based in the capital Sana'a and controls about 70-80% of the country's population. Opposing the Houthis is an Arab coalition split into two competing blocs - one overseen by Saudi Arabia and the other by the UAE. Yemen's internationally recognized government controls about 70% of the country, including oil and gas fields in the southern provinces of Marib and Hadramawt, and is represented by a KSA-backed governing presidential council headed by Chairman Rashid al-Alimi. The pro-Saudi camp's rival is the Southern Transitional Council (STC), led by General Eidarous al-Zubeidi, which represents the Emirati wing of the Arab coalition and is based in Aden.
In October this year, a UN panel of experts on Yemen reported that the Houthis had carried out at least 134 attacks from areas under their control against commercial vessels linked in some way to Israel or the US. The U.N. report also said the Houthis have begun collecting illegal fees from shipping companies. These fees, allegedly coordinated through a company linked to a senior leader of the movement, allowed ships to pass through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden without being attacked. In this way, the Houthis turned the waterways into a lucrative enterprise, collecting an estimated $180 million a month.
Regarding the latest developments in Syria, the Yemeni movement has taken a cautious stance. Hours after announcing the end of Bashar al-Assad's rule, Politburo member Hussein al-Ezzi said that "Sana'a is working for peace but will prepare for a long-term war." For his part, Ansar Allah politburo member Muhammad al-Buheiti called on the new authorities in Syria to confront Israel together, noting that he delivered his message to the armed Syrian opposition about a year ago in which he reaffirmed "the readiness of the Ansar Allah movement to overcome any previous differences and join forces."
Local media close to the authorities in Sanaa reported that the US and Saudi Arabia made a new offer to Ansar Allah, emphasizing that Washington and Riyadh are trying to use the developments in the region to put pressure on the Houthis to reach an agreement. In September, the Yemeni movement clarified that the States had offered to recognize their government in Sanaa in exchange for an end to the attacks.
As time passes, it is becoming increasingly clear that the US has to pay for its "militaristic" approach, says Yemeni columnist Afrah Nasser. Washington has ignored Yemen's deep political, social and economic problems in favor of short-term military goals, she says. The U.S. presence has triggered a cycle of violence rather than bringing the warring factions to the negotiating table, Nasser believes.
Gaza hostage deal
In recent weeks, there has been diplomatic activity surrounding ceasefire talks in Gaza amid intensified strikes by Yemen's Houthis. The Palestinian Hamas movement has received a new text of a deal from Egypt for the release of hostages held in the Strip. Hamas representative in Lebanon Ahmed Abdel Hadi told Izvestia earlier.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the Palestinian movement said for the first time that it may agree to a deal that would allow Israeli troops to temporarily maintain a presence in Gaza after the fighting ends. At issue are the Philadelphia Corridor between Egypt and the Gaza Strip and the Netzarim corridor dividing Gaza into southern and northern parts.
Hamas also agreed, according to the Journal's sources, that it would not be present on the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. The Wall Street Journal writes that the movement handed over a list of hostages who would be released if a deal is struck.
- There is no need for the presence of Israeli forces in the Philadelphi Corridor because it has no strategic, military or security significance for Israel. "Netanyahu wants to derail an agreement that will lead to a ceasefire," Egyptian international relations specialist Tarek al-Bardisi told Izvestia.
Wall Street Journal sources say the current version of the proposal calls for a two-month ceasefire period, during which up to 30 hostages would be released. Israel, in turn, would release a number of Palestinian prisoners and allow an increased flow of humanitarian aid to the enclave.
On December 12, a delegation of the Palestinian movement "Islamic Jihad" headed by Secretary General Ziyad al-Nahala arrived in Cairo to negotiate the deal. Recall that Russian citizen Alexander Trufanov is held in Gaza by the military wing of the "Islamic Jihad". Maxim Kharkin, a native of Donetsk, who obtained Russian citizenship while already in captivity, also remains a hostage.
