The Houthis are using the current ceasefire between Israel, the US, and Iran to improve their missile capabilities, two people familiar with the matter told The Jerusalem Post on Monday.
The Iran-backed group in Yemen recently has been conducting tests aimed at improving the range and accuracy of its missiles, according to the Western intelligence sources.
Unlike Hezbollah, and despite being an Iranian proxy, the Houthis have launched relatively few attacks against Israel since the start of Operation Rising Lion, Israel’s military campaign against Iran.
Since resuming attacks on Israel on March 28, the Houthis have fired about six missiles and five drones toward Israel. When the Gaza ceasefire agreement was agreed upon last October, the Houthis said they had suspended all attacks.
Houthis say they will attack if war in Gaza resumes
Last week, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said his group would intervene militarily in support of Hamas if the IDF launched a new military operation in the Gaza Strip.
“We are in continuous coordination with our brothers across the resistance fronts, and we will not hesitate to fulfill our duty in response to any new escalation of aggression against any front, especially Gaza,” he said.
Houthi also said the Houthis were closely monitoring developments in Somaliland and what he described as Israeli efforts to establish control over the Gulf of Aden, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Red Sea.
“We will not stand idly by in the face of an Israeli presence in Somaliland,” he said. “We will act whenever necessary to strike any concentration of the Israeli enemy in Somaliland.”
Israel has not carried out strikes in Yemen since its operation there last September 25, including during the conflict with Iran, despite continued Houthi attacks.
Last week, however, Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Houthi leadership was “not immune.”
“Israel’s account with the Houthis remains open,” he said. “They will pay a price. If their leader is found in our sights, we will eliminate him.”