As we enter the New Year all eyes are once again drawn to the Middle East, where there has been no peace in this Season of Goodwill.

Having comprehensively defeated Hezbollah in Lebanon and emasculated Hamas in Gaza, Israel now faces a shift in its strategic focus.

With the defeat of these two major adversaries, Israel‘s attention will inevitably turn to the threat posed by the Houthis in Yemen.

The Houthis, an Iran-backed militia, have grown increasingly influential and aggressive, and their connection to Tehran amplifies their significance within the broader regional dynamics.

Israel can now confront disrupting this new menace before it can gain any more momentum.

The Houthis are not new players in the Middle East. A Zaydi Shia Islamist political and military organization that emerged in Yemen in the 1990s, their rise has been characterized by a mix of religious fervour, military savvy, and a complex set of alliances, most notably with Iran.

Their arsenal is formidable, mainly sourced from Iran in the form of missiles, drones, and other reasonably sophisticated weaponry. They have demonstrated a particular proficiency in asymmetric warfare, targeting regional adversaries with precision strikes.

Their recent actions, such as missile attacks on Saudi Arabia and the UAE, signal a growing ambition to make their presence felt in the region.

The Houthis present a direct extension of the broader Iranian strategy to encircle Israel with hostile elements. Their geographical proximity to strategic waterways, such as the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, grants them a level of leverage that Israel can ill afford to ignore.

Their campaign to disrupt international shipping in the Red Sea has proved successful despite the protection offered by US and western warships there. At least two ships have been sunk and others damaged.

The potential for Iranian weapons to reach the Houthis via Yemen’s porous borders means that Israel must treat the growing capabilities of the militia as a national security threat, even if the Houthis themselves have not yet fully extended their reach into the eastern Mediterranean.

In responding to this threat, Israel will likely employ a strategy that mirrors its approach to Hamas and Hezbollah: a blend of military force, covert operations, and diplomatic pressure.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have a well established and professional intelligence network to pre-empt threats, and the Houthis will be a prime target for Israeli cyber warfare and airstrikes.

In addition, Israel‘s allies — especially the USA, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE— will play a pivotal role. All share an interest with Israel in containing Iran’s influence in the region.

This creates opportunities for covert coordination, intelligence sharing, and even direct military collaboration (as has already taken place on multiple occasions) to counter the Houthis’ growing strength.

An unspecified Israeli official speaking recently to Israeli media expressed interest in increasing cooperation with the US-led international coalition against the Houthis.

These comments came amid continued US airstrikes targeting the Houthis. On the diplomatic front, Israel‘s messaging will aim to isolate the Houthis from potential new sources of support.

Their control over large parts of Yemen presents a challenge for any peace efforts in the region, and Israel will likely work with regional partners to ensure that the Houthis remain diplomatically marginalised.

The goal would seem to be to fracture any nascent alliances between the Houthis and Iran’s regional proxies, thereby disrupting the flow of finance, expertise, and weapons to these groups.

So, whilst the defeat of Hamas and Hezbollah does not signal the end of Israel’s regional security challenges, it is a large part of the Israelis bolstering their political and military pre-eminence in that part of the Middle East. It also marks a recalibration of its priorities.

The Houthis, emboldened by Iranian patronage, now represent the next front in Israel‘s long-running struggle against asymmetric threats.

While the nature of the threat may differ, the response will likely follow a well-established Israeli playbook, blending hard power with strategic diplomacy to ensure the continued security of the Jewish state.

The Houthis’ rise must be met with the same determination and innovation that Israel applied to their predecessors. The stakes are still high, and Israel‘s leadership will need to remain vigilant, adaptable, and resolute in the face of this new regional challenge.

Lt Col Stuart Crawford is a political and defence commentator and former Army officer. Sign up for his podcasts and newsletters at www.DefenceReview.uk