US has decided to increase activity against Houthis, sources tell 'Post'

During high-level discussions within Israel’s political and security leadership, the Mossad chief reportedly called for a direct strike on Iran following Houthi attacks.

 Protesters, mainly Houthi supporters, rally to show support to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, in Sanaa, Yemen December 20, 2024 (photo credit: REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH)
Protesters, mainly Houthi supporters, rally to show support to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, in Sanaa, Yemen December 20, 2024
(photo credit: REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH)

The US decided in recent days to increase its activity against the Houthis in Yemen, sources with knowledge of the matter told The Jerusalem Post.

This decision was made by the US in recent days after it deemed its policy and actions against the Houthis over the last year as “insufficient.”

Sources said that “after the US saw that international companies continued to fear entering the Red Sea’s [shipping route] and that the Houthis continued to fire against Israel and international ships,” it realized that “decisions had to be made.”

They added that the US was cooperating with Israel on this issue.

In recent days, Israel has struck ports, which caused them to shut down, and several other targets in Sanaa.

 Smoke rises from a power station following Israeli airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen December 19, 2024.  (credit: REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH)
Smoke rises from a power station following Israeli airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen December 19, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH)

Strikes on Yemen

Concurrently, there has been an increase in US activity in Yemen, including strikes against Houthi targets. On Saturday, the US conducted strikes on Houthi missile and storage facilities in Yemen's capital, Sana'a.

Israeli air force jets also struck Houthi targets in Sana'a in the early hours of Thursday morning, as Yemen fired a ballistic missile towards Israel.