There will be attacks: Houthis promise new attacks on Tel Aviv airport
The Houthis will continue to attack Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport until the blockade on the Gaza Strip is lifted. Khuzam al-Assad, a member of the political bureau of the movement, told Izvestia about this, adding that the list of targets now includes "objects of increased sensitivity." According to him, the Houthis will increase military pressure on the Jewish state. The Israeli side, in turn, says that the response to the attacks by the Yemeni rebels will also be addressed to "Iranian patrons." Ansar Allah, meanwhile, rejected the possibility of negotiations with the United States on lifting sanctions.
Houthi attacks on Ben Gurion
Despite the agreement reached with the United States on a ceasefire in the Red Sea through Oman, the Yemeni Ansar Allah movement (Houthis) does not intend to stop attacks on Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv. This was stated to Izvestia by a member of the political bureau of the movement, Khuzam al-Assad.
— The Yemeni operations in support of Gaza are part of the country's struggle against Israeli aggression, and they will not stop as long as the bombing and blockade of more than 2 million people in the Gaza Strip continue. The attacks on Ben Gurion Airport are part of a campaign of military pressure on the enemy in order to stop its aggression and lift the blockade. These operations will continue unless the conditions are clearly met," said Khuzam al-Asad.
He described the principle by which the Houthi command operates as "deterrence in response to aggression and pressure in response to the blockade."
— Our military operations are developing quantitatively and qualitatively, both in terms of the number and type of weapons, as well as in terms of the accuracy and quality of targets. The list of our targets includes new, more sensitive objects," the movement said.
Escalation with Israel
In recent weeks, the Houthis have intensified attacks on Ben-Gurion. According to representatives of the movement, ballistic missiles are also used in the attacks. This is exactly what hit the airport on May 4. This was the most significant blow to Ben-Gurion, as a result of which six people were injured. The military said it had made several attempts to intercept the missile, but had failed to shoot it down. The airport resumed operations about an hour after the impact.
Immediately after the Houthi shelling, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an urgent meeting of the military cabinet. It was stated that the IDF would respond to the attack at its chosen time and place. It was also emphasized that the actions of the Yemeni rebels against Israel are inspired and supported by Tehran. In this regard, the Israeli response will also be addressed to "Iranian patrons."
In turn, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said that the Ansar Allah movement "will pay sevenfold." Israel later targeted the airport in Sanaa and disabled it.
According to Yemeni political analyst Sanda al-Sayyadi, the pace and nature of Ansar Allah's operations against Israel depend on the current situation in the Gaza Strip. According to him, the escalation by Israel, coupled with the ongoing blockade and plans to forcibly relocate people, are the key triggers determining the activity of the Yemeni front.
In this regard, it is worth noting that the Israeli media reported on the planned new IDF operation in Gaza called "Chariots of Gideon" if a hostage agreement is not reached during the visit of US President Donald Trump to the Middle East from May 13 to 16. Netanyahu said at a meeting with IDF reservists that the army would enter Gaza "with all its might" in the coming days until Hamas was completely defeated.
Al-Sayyadi stresses that Sana considers Israel's actions a reason for a symmetrical response. The movement, as he explains, lacks red lines.
The expert also points out that today, having significantly strengthened its capabilities, Sanaa can afford to raise the bar in negotiations with the United States. At the same time, the movement, according to him, proceeds from the desire to alleviate the suffering of its own people. All of this requires management to be flexible in setting priorities.
Ceasefire between the Houthis and the United States
On May 6, Trump announced that the rebels had agreed to stop attacks on ships in the Red Sea, including ships passing through the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Shortly after, Oman's Foreign Minister, Badr al-Busaidi, confirmed the information about the agreement between the United States and Ansar Allah through the mediation of the Sultanate. According to the agreements, the Houthis will stop attacking ships in exchange for the suspension of American strikes on the territory of Yemen.
However, as al-Assad clarified, this agreement does not include economic aspects, in particular the lifting of US sanctions.
— This is not an agreement in the literal sense of the word, but rather an American signal transmitted to us through Omani intermediaries about its readiness to stop aggression in the Red Sea and stop supporting Israel. We responded in the same way, refraining from attacking American ships. But sanctions are a completely different story. We do not consider them as a subject for negotiation. This is a crime that complements military aggression," the Houthi representative stressed.
He noted that Yemen would not succumb to economic blackmail, and Washington should "reconsider its policy and stop supporting Israel."
— From this point of view, we see no point in negotiating with a party that uses sanctions to force us to comply. It would be better if they would reconsider their policy, stop harming the people and support Israel, which is committing genocide in Gaza," said Khuzam al-Assad.
The outcome of the American military campaign against the Houthis remains unclear. The Pentagon has provided extremely limited data on the destroyed facilities. According to local estimates, at least 158 civilians were killed and more than 300 injured as a result of the strikes.
NBC reported that the operation has cost the United States more than $1 billion since March. This amount includes thousands of bombs and missiles used, as well as seven downed drones and two sunken fighter jets.
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