Dr. Ahmed Rafiq Awad: Hypersonic missiles carry clear messages warning against targeting Iranian nuclear facilities

Akram Atallah: Houthi attacks reflect a real crisis in the Israeli strategy for dealing with distant threats

Antoine Shalhat: A turning point in the conflict that goes beyond the traditional regional confrontation and an Israeli failure to deter the Houthis

Dr. Tamara Haddad: Iran is using the Houthis as a key card to improve the terms of negotiations with America, especially with Trump approaching his assumption of power

Nabhan Khreisha: The Yemeni front is a “dilemma” that hinders Netanyahu’s vision of achieving “absolute victory,” especially after his claimed achievements in Lebanon and Gaza

In light of the regional transformations, the Houthis launched a hypersonic missile attack the day before yesterday, Saturday, targeting the Israeli depth, which could put Israel before difficult options to respond in the Yemeni depth, especially since these hypersonic missiles are viewed as a preemptive Iranian threat message to Israel to dissuade it from attempts to target its nuclear facilities.

In separate interviews with “I”, writers, political analysts and specialists believe that these attacks by the Houthis are part of an indirect Iranian escalation against Israel, especially since the recent attack bypassed advanced Israeli defense systems, and opened the door to questions about the Israeli response options and the extent of its impact on the regional balance of power.

They point out that Israel faces a new strategic challenge in confronting a long-term threat, directly linked to Iranian policies, where the response options available to Tel Aviv range from intensifying air strikes against the Houthis, cooperating with the US-led international coalition, ending the war on the Gaza Strip to end the Houthi attacks, or even political negotiations with Iran to reach a broader settlement that includes sensitive files such as the Iranian nuclear program. However, the geographical distance and rugged terrain of Yemen represent an obstacle to Israel carrying out direct and effective military operations.

Writers, analysts and specialists believe that the continued Houthi attacks on Israel may come as Iranian messages aimed at improving Tehran's negotiating terms with the United States, especially with the approach of a new US administration.

Israel under Netanyahu faces multiple options in response

Writer and political analyst Dr. Ahmed Rafiq Awad believes that Israel, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, has multiple options in its response to the attacks launched by the Houthis, the latest of which was on Saturday with a hypersonic missile, noting that these options vary in terms of effectiveness and strategic impact.

Awad explains that one of the options available to Israel is to continue bombing Houthi sites using Israeli aircraft. Although this option is difficult and does not guarantee decisive results, it remains on the table. Israel may find it difficult to achieve major strategic gains through these air strikes, but it may seek to weaken the Houthis’ military capabilities.

Awad points to the second option, which is that Israel may rely on the international coalition led by the United States and the United Kingdom to intensify air strikes on Houthi sites. Indeed, there have been American strikes targeting the Houthis, which shows the coalition’s role in supporting Israel and its strategic interests.

Awad addresses the third option, which is that there should be an Israeli settlement with the Palestinians, which could be a fundamental step to end the Houthi attacks, as the Houthis have explicitly declared that their attacks will continue as long as the war on Gaza continues, which makes stopping this war and settling the situation in the Strip a logical option if Israel wants to reduce tensions with the Houthis and their allies.

The fourth option, according to Awad, is that Israel could seek a political or even military settlement with Iran that includes controversial issues, such as the Iranian nuclear program and regional influence. Such a settlement could lead to calming the situation with the Houthis, who are considered one of Iran’s most important allies in the region.

Meanwhile, Awad points out that the Houthi attacks, especially the hypersonic missiles, carry clear messages from Iran to Israel and the West, as the ballistic missile attacks, which Israeli defense systems failed to intercept, reflect the development of Iranian missiles, which have become a strategic weapon capable of bypassing traditional defense systems.

Awad believes that these messages include a warning to Israel against targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, and an emphasis on the ability of Iran and its allies to respond forcefully.

Dr. Awad stresses the difficulty of a comprehensive war breaking out between Israel and Yemen due to the great geographical distance, as more than 2,000 kilometers separate the two parties.

However, Awad points out that limited confrontations between the two sides may continue in the future, especially if Israel does not reach a settlement with the Palestinians or the Iranians.

Awad asserts that the Houthis represent a strong ally of Iran, given their ability to launch ballistic missiles and control vital waterways such as Bab al-Mandab, through which about a fifth of global trade passes. This Iranian-Houthi alliance is not as fragile as one might think, but rather represents a major strategic challenge to Israel and the Western coalition.

Awad believes that the continuation of Houthi attacks on Israel depends on the continuation of the war in Gaza, and that reaching regional political settlements remains the most effective option to calm the situation and end tensions.

Hypersonic missiles: a new and complex challenge

Writer and political analyst Akram Atallah believes that Israel faces a new and complex challenge in the form of hypersonic missiles launched by the Houthis from Yemen. Although the Israeli Arrow missile defense system, which is one of the most prominent achievements of the Israeli defense industries, has shown great effectiveness against other threats, it has failed to confront these advanced missiles, which reflects a real crisis in the Israeli strategy for dealing with distant threats.

Atallah stresses that the Houthi threat poses a new challenge to Israel that may last for a long time, especially since its regional roots are linked to Iran.

Atallah points out that Israel has achieved tangible successes in confronting it on the fronts of Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, but Yemen, despite its geographical distance and the lack of a common border with Israel, is now emerging as a new threat, especially after the Houthis launched missiles that proved their ability to bypass Israeli defense systems. This development places Israel before a different equation that requires a re-evaluation of its military and security strategies.

Atallah believes that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has options to deal with this threat, either intensifying air strikes against the Houthis with the aim of exhausting them or pushing them to surrender, or perhaps Israel seeks to mobilize countries such as the United States and its allies to strike the Houthis more effectively, or targeting Iran, as the primary sponsor of the Houthis, and it may be a strategic option to end the threat from its roots, as Netanyahu believes that the “driving head” is Iran, which is still able to influence all its allies, including the Houthis.

Atallah points out that the Houthi attacks may carry Iranian messages aimed at confirming the strength and solidity of the resistance axis, and its ability to disrupt Israeli military plans.

Regarding the possibility of a confrontation between Israel and Yemen, Atallah believes that the geographical distance makes any direct war difficult to implement, as this confrontation will remain within the framework of “remote warfare” and will depend on air and missile attacks without the ability to use ground forces or tanks, which makes it a war of limited impact.

A turning point... and a long-term Israeli goal

The writer, political analyst and specialist in Israeli affairs, Antoine Shalhat, believes that the Houthis’ launch of a missile at the Gush Dan area in Tel Aviv on Saturday, without the Israeli defense system being able to intercept it, constitutes a turning point in the conflict that goes beyond the boundaries of the traditional regional confrontation.

Shalhat explains that this development highlights Israel's failure to impose a deterrent policy against the Houthis, despite the repeated air strikes it launched on infrastructure sites in Sanaa and Hodeidah.

Shalhat points out that the Houthis' continued launching of missiles and drones and targeting ships passing through Bab al-Mandab and the port of Eilat reflects Israel's failure to stop this threat.

Shalhat believes that this situation is pushing the Israeli security and political establishments to acknowledge the futility of current tactics, which increases pressure to find more effective solutions.

Shalhat believes that the most likely scenario for the Israeli response to these attacks is the continuation of Israeli cooperation with the United States and Britain, in line with the Israeli desire to eliminate the Houthi infrastructure.

Shalhat points out that Israel has a long-term goal, which is to overthrow the Houthi regime in Yemen.

However, according to Shalhat, this goal remains dependent on the extent of the United States’ willingness to commit to implementing it, especially in light of the need for clear American support to implement any large-scale operation.

Israel seeks to exploit the Houthi file as a means of pressuring the US administration, according to Shalhat, noting that Israel promotes the Houthi threat as a danger that goes beyond the borders of the Israeli conflict, and includes international maritime lanes in the Red Sea. Through this narrative, Israel hopes to obtain American and international support for a military operation aimed at reducing the capabilities of the Houthis, or even overthrowing their regime.

Shalhat links the Houthi attacks against Israel to the Israeli escalation against Iran, and believes that these attacks represent direct messages from Tehran, indicating that any Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities will not pass without widespread reactions, including the Houthis.

Shalhat explains that Iran's provision of advanced military technologies to the Houthis, such as ballistic missiles and drones, aims to demonstrate the weakness of the Israeli defense system and target strategic sites, including the port of Eilat.

Shalhat believes that the decision to launch an Israeli war on Yemen does not fall within Israel's jurisdiction alone, but rather depends on the approval of the United States.

Shalhat explains that Israel may consider a large-scale military operation against the Houthis, but it will not do so without an American green light.

Shalhat points out that the imminent entry of a new American administration, more friendly towards Israel, may provide the appropriate conditions for implementing this scenario if the Houthi threat continues.

Shalhat believes that the future of the war with the Houthis depends largely on the American-Israeli consensus, and on Israel’s ability to benefit from the changes in the next American administration. If the Houthi threat continues, Israel may seek to carry out a military operation in cooperation with its international partners, targeting the Houthi infrastructure, in an attempt to change the balance of power in the region. However, the question of the success of these efforts remains open to regional and international developments.

The last card as a strategic arm for Iran in the Red Sea

Writer and political researcher Dr. Tamara Haddad explains that the Houthis, or what is known as "Ansar Allah", represent the last card as a strategic arm for Iran in the Red Sea region.

Haddad points out that Tehran provides the Houthis with financial, military, logistical and intelligence support, including ballistic missiles and hypersonic missiles of Iranian origin, despite what is promoted in the Yemeni media that they are locally manufactured.

Haddad points out that the Houthis benefit from intelligence information provided by Iran in cooperation with Russia, including ship traffic routes in the Red Sea, which allows them to target shipping vessels with precision.

Haddad points out that what the Houthis are doing has led to an economic crisis in the region, which has affected global maritime companies, even Chinese companies.

Dr. Haddad believes that Iran is using the Houthis as one of its main cards to improve the terms of negotiations with the United States, especially with the approach of US President-elect Donald Trump taking office in January 2025.

Haddad points out that Tehran seeks to achieve gains in any new nuclear agreement or reduction of US sanctions imposed on it, and Iran also aims to improve its negotiating position by keeping the region in a state of security tension, through supporting factions loyal to it in Iraq and Yemen.

Haddad points out that the Houthis declare their support for the Gaza Strip in light of the Israeli aggression, but this support has not made any significant change in the course of the war or stopped it. Instead, Iran is using the Houthis as a threatening message against Israel and the international community, confirming their continuation as a strong arm of Tehran in the region.

Regarding the Israeli response to the Houthi attacks, Dr. Haddad explains that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering several options.

The first option, according to Haddad, is to carry out direct strikes on the Houthis, but this option faces major challenges due to the geographical distance between Israel and Yemen. Haddad points out that the second option, which may be more realistic, is to use the international coalition led by the United States and Britain to launch powerful strikes on the Houthi front, ensuring that its capabilities are significantly reduced.

The third option, according to Haddad, includes Israel using sites near the Red Sea, such as some military bases in Eritrea or other areas, in order to target Houthi bases.

Haddad confirms that Israel is currently working to mobilize intelligence and logistical support from the regional and international coalition to ensure accurate strikes.

Haddad believes that the Houthi attacks on Israel using hypersonic missiles are a direct Iranian message, and this message aims to confirm Iran's ability to target the Israeli depth through its regional arms, which places Israel in front of increasing security and economic challenges.

Haddad points out that the Houthis, through their control of the Bab al-Mandab region, pose a direct threat to international navigation, taking advantage of Yemen’s mountainous terrain that allows them to hide and transport weapons easily.

Haddad pointed out that Israel, in cooperation with the United States, seeks to end all of Iran's arms in the region as part of its plan to restructure the Middle East.

Haddad explains that this plan includes eliminating the Houthis through direct military strikes and funding armed groups opposing them, similar to what happened in Syria. The plan also includes igniting a civil war in Yemen with the aim of weakening the Houthis internally.

Haddad believes that Israel will not stop at the current escalation, but rather seeks to achieve a comprehensive victory, not only in Gaza, but at the level of the region as a whole.

Haddad asserts that Israel's strategic goal is to end the Iranian nuclear project and eliminate Tehran's arms, including the Houthis, in order to enhance its regional influence and subjugate the remaining parties to accept its terms.

Haddad points out that Israel considers eliminating the Houthis a pivotal step in its plan to end the Iranian-backed “Shiite Crescent,” paving the way for reshaping the region in line with its interests.

Haddad stresses that the continuation of Houthi attacks will further complicate the regional scene, but at the same time it gives Israel an opportunity to mobilize broad international alliances to confront the Iranian threat.

Haddad stresses that the confrontation in Yemen will remain open to all scenarios, including intensive international interventions, and the creation of a new political and security environment that contributes to rearranging the region's priorities in a way that serves the powerful parties on the international and regional scene.

Two scenarios for response and excluding direct confrontation

Journalist Nabhan Khreisha points out that the exceptional event of the Houthis launching a hypersonic missile from Yemen towards Tel Aviv, bypassing Israeli air defenses, causing material damage and injuries, has prompted voices in Israel to demand a large-scale attack on the Houthis in Yemen to eliminate their threat.

Khreisha points out that implementing this scenario is more complicated than Israel's operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon or Hamas in Gaza, due to several geographical and military considerations.

Khreisha explains that the distance with Yemen is more than 1,500 kilometers, in addition to the diverse Yemeni terrain and vast area, which makes any direct Israeli military operation complex and difficult to implement compared to Lebanon or the Gaza Strip.

Khreisha stresses that any Israeli response to the Houthis will require drawing an accurate intelligence picture of Yemen, including missile sites, military technology factories, and Houthi command centers, if Israel decides to carry out operations beyond the limited air strikes that previously targeted areas such as Sanaa and Hodeidah.

According to Khreisha, the Israeli leadership believes that the Houthi missiles that hit Tel Aviv with precision and were able to bypass air defenses constitute great pressure on the security and political establishment.

Khreisha describes the Yemeni front as a "dilemma" that hinders Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's vision of achieving "absolute victory" for Israel, especially after what it claims of achievements on other fronts such as southern Lebanon and Gaza.

Khreisha believes that there are two possible scenarios for Israel's response to the Houthi threat, one of which is successive air strikes, where Israel could launch a series of air strikes in response to Houthi attacks.

The second option, according to Khreisha, is to resort to a regional and international alliance, as Israel seeks to form an alliance that includes the United States, European countries, and Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, which are still at war with the Houthis, but the option of direct confrontation with Yemen is currently ruled out due to logistical and geographical challenges.

Khreisha believes that Iran may see the Israeli attacks on Yemen as part of Israeli military training to prepare for an attack on its nuclear reactors, as the distance between Israel and Yemen is close to the distance between it and Iran, and Israeli aircraft need to refuel in the air and maneuver across wide areas, which are the same challenges that Israel would face if it decided to strike Iran.

Khreisha points out that Iran, which has lost its direct confrontation with Israel in Syria and Lebanon, considers the Houthis an important arm of the “axis of resistance,” and for this reason it has provided the Houthis with advanced military technology, including hypersonic missiles and drones capable of hitting targets in the Mediterranean, in an attempt to deter Israel and prevent it from targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.

Khreisha points out that Israel believes that it cannot coexist with the Houthi threat in the long term, especially after what it considers to be “victories” it achieved in Lebanon and Gaza, and forcing Iran to retreat, but carrying out a military operation against the Houthis requires accurate intelligence information and great logistical preparation.

Therefore, Khreisha rules out that Israel will launch a unilateral war on Yemen, suggesting that it will seek to form an international and regional coalition that includes America and European countries, in addition to Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, to ensure the achievement of its goals and reduce risks.