Mossad: Israel should attack Iran over Houthi attacks, PM Netanyahu vows ‘forceful action’

The Houthi terrorists in Yemen have significantly increased their attacks on Israel in recent weeks, culminating in a ballistic missile strike that wounded 16 people in Tel Aviv on Saturday.

In a statement to the Israeli people, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Sunday that Israel would respond by taking “forceful, determined and sophisticated action.”

Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that the Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence service, reportedly advised Israel to strike at the Houthi’s patron and hit the Iranian regime directly.

“Just as we have acted forcefully against the terror arms of Iran’s axis of evil, so too will we act against the Houthis. However, in this case, we are not acting alone,” Netanyahu said.

The U.S. conducted two series of strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen last week and continues to lead an international alliance aiming to combat the Houthi threats against international shipping in the Red Sea.

“Like us, the US and other countries see the Houthis not only as a threat to international maritime navigation but to the international order as well,” Netanyahu continued.

“I will say this, even if it takes time, the result will be the same – as it has been with the other terror arms. But what I ask of you, citizens of Israel, is to be patient, to continue showing the same resilience that you have shown up until now, and to strictly follow Home Front Command directives. This I ask of you – you do this and we will take care of the rest,” the prime minister concluded.

Throughout the ongoing war, Israeli officials have stressed the degree of material support and direction the Iranian regime provides the numerous terror groups that have attacked Israel, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, several proxy groups in Syria and Iraq, and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

“We have to go for the head. If we attack only the Houthis, it won’t help,” Mossad Director David Barnea advised in closed talks in recent days. Channel 13 News reported that Barnea’s recommendation came during several “dramatic” discussions among Israel’s top security leaders in recent days.

Early last Thursday morning, the Israeli Air Force carried out a series of airstrikes against the Houthis, shortly after another ballistic missile attack on Israel. The attack focused on preventing the Houthis from receiving Iranian arms shipments and selling oil by damaging their port infrastructure.

The Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat cited Israeli political sources who said there were ongoing efforts to convince the U.S. to develop a plan for a broad military attack against the Houthis, and their supporter, Iran, at the same time.

According to the same report, the Houthis are said to be acting relatively independently while enjoying “significant Iranian support” including not just arms and funds, but also missile guidance.

Israeli investigators found that most of the recent missiles launched at Israel had “advanced and unusual technologies,” which included a system giving the missile more fuel, allowing it to fly over its target for a longer time and making interceptions more difficult.