The Take: What Does Israel’s Escalation with the Houthis Mean for Yemen?
On May 7, 2025, Israel bombed Yemen’s Sanaa airport and the Hodeidah port in a sharp escalation of tensions. This came just 24 hours after the Houthis launched missiles that landed near Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, triggering Israeli retaliatory strikes.
This growing conflict could have devastating implications for Yemen, already reeling from years of internal war. The Houthis, backed by Iran, have been a formidable force in Yemen’s ongoing civil war, but now their actions are drawing Israel into the fray. While Israel’s airstrikes target strategic locations, the wider ramifications for the Yemeni people remain a source of concern.
In the latest episode of The Take, Yemeni writer and researcher Maysaa Shuja al-Deen discusses the potential impact of this escalation. As the conflict between Israel and the Houthis intensifies, fears grow about a broader regional war and its toll on Yemen’s already fragile infrastructure and civilian population.
This escalation signals a significant shift in the dynamics of the Middle East, with Israel’s involvement adding a new layer of complexity to Yemen’s already dire situation. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether the conflict will remain confined to military strikes or expand into a wider regional war.
