The conflict between Israel and the Houthi rebels has morphed from a peripheral proxy war into a direct military confrontation, characterized by increasingly powerful direct hits. The recent Israeli airstrikes on Sanaa are the clearest evidence of this dangerous transformation.
What began as Houthi missile and drone launches in solidarity with Gaza, mostly intercepted by Israeli defenses, has now evolved. The Houthi use of a cluster bomb warhead represented a significant escalation, prompting Israel to change its rules of engagement.
Israel’s response was not another interception but a direct hit on the Houthi capital, targeting the regime’s core infrastructure and symbols of power. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s vow to attack not just attackers but also “planners” signals a permanent shift to a more proactive and direct military posture.
This new phase, defined by direct hits rather than proxy maneuvers, is more volatile and unpredictable. The buffer of distance has been eliminated, placing the two adversaries in a direct and deadly embrace.