LOS ANGELES.–Striking near Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, Iran’s proxy Houthi rebels continue to menace the Mideast, shooting missile in the Red Sea at U.S. warships and other vessels, making passage through the global waterway more treacherous than ever. Recent Houthi strikes near Ben Gurion airport provides the latest proof to date of Iran’s role in striking Israel. Iran’s 85-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei continues to menace the region, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to warn that Israel will respond to Iranian Houthi strikes at a time of its choosing. “Israel will respond to the Houthi attacks against tour main airport AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters,” Netanyahu posted on X. President Donald Trump, 78, has also served notice on Ayatollah that if he doesn’t deal on Iran’s nuke problem he could face the U.S. military.
Iran’s involvement with Houthi attacks provides the proxy terror group long-range, Iranian-made ballistic missiles. Houthi’s latest strike near Ben Gurion airport caused at least eight injuries, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold Iran accountable. Yemen’s Houth rebels have been subject to scores of U.S. attacks since March, apparently having little effect on their command-and-control operations, continuing to fire long-range Iranian missiles at Israel. Israel’s TV channel N12 reported that Israel’s Arrow 3 and U.S. THAAD missile defense system did not intercept the Houthi missile strike. What went wrong with Israel’s missile defense system is anyone’s guess. Given the high stakes and continue risk, Netanyahu better find out what went wrong. Houthi military spokesman Yehya Saree warned airlines to avoid Israeli airspace.
Netanyahu can’t delay much longer a response for the latest round of Houthi missile strikes on Israel, now affecting air traffic safety. Houtis latest attack closed Ben Gurion airport temporarily but this issue of failed missile defense cannot go unresolved. Air traffic to Ben Gurion was temporarily interrupted, despite returning to normal operations, after updated security checks. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned of severe retaliation. “Whoever attacks us, we will hit back sevenfold,” an apparent reference to biblical prophecy. Houthi spokesman Saree said that they would continue to strike Israel until they end the war in Gaza “whatever the consequences,” a reference to Trump’s recent bombing strikes. Houthis now serve as Iran’s only active proxy group after Gaza’s Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah has been put out of commission by relentless Israeli strikes.
Aid has been difficult to get into parts of Gaza because Hamas intercepts the shipments and reroutes them for sale elsewhere, leaving Palestinians starving, only to have Hamas blame Israel for committing genocide. U.S. and Israel have been in talks with private companies to bypass Hamas and bring aid directly to Palestinians living in Gaza. Hamas continues to hold on to Israeli hostages taken in the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre, killing 1,200 Israeli, taking another 250 hostage. Netanyahu plans to escalate military operations against Hamas to bring back any remaining living or dead hostages, something Hamas holds as collateral. Hamas’s Israeli massacre has resulted in the complete destruction of the Gaza Strip, all to preserve Hamas power now confined to Gaza’s military tunnels. Gaza is no longer an inhabitable territory for 1.2 million Palestinians, now living it makeshift shelters.
Iran’s Ayatollah is walking on thin ice continuing to use it Houth militia to attack Israel now that Hamas and Hezbollah no longer have the military capabilities. Trump has found out that Yemen’s Houthis decentralize their military apparatus, using mobile missile launchers, presenting problems for U.S. bombing missions. So, whatever air operation occurred, it hasn’t disrupted Houthis from firing Iranian missiles into Israel, posing an ongoing threat to commercial shipping in the Red Sea and no air travel in Israel. Netanyahu is of the view that the decision making takes place in Tehran not Sanaa, Yemen. Israel can’t allow Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport to be subjected to Houthi strikes with Iranian missiles. Throwaway missile or bombing attacks at Houthi targets haven’t stopped the militia from striking targets inside Israel, prompting Netahayhu to take more actions.
Houthis sound defiant saying “God is the greatest. Death of America. Death to Israel. Curse be upon the Jews. Victory to Islam,” said Houthi spokeman Yehya Saree. Houthis retain the same vile anti-Semitism as Iran, making the ongoing missile strikes all the more onerous. Bombing Houthi targets has not stopped missile strikes but, more importantly, the continuation of the same Nazi-like anti-Semitism that saw six million Jews exterminated by Nazi Germany. Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis all have the same repugnant mission of exterminating all Jews, wherever they’re found. Because Iran funds and supplies ballistic missiles to Houthis, they must be held responsible for ongoing attacks on Israel. Iran says Houthis operate independently without the Ayatollah’s orders. Nentayahu doesn’t buy Ayatollah’s Holocaust denial.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
