The threat posed by the Houthis in Yemen has intensified amid fighting with Saudi Arabia, Israeli defense officials assess, prompting heightened preparations for a possible surprise attack against Israel by land or sea.
Israel is on heightened alert over the possibility of such an attack, given the Houthis' efforts to improve their ability to carry out attacks from both directions.
As part of these preparations, the IDF is expected to establish a fire coordination center within the Edom Division.
Over the past two years, the Houthis have released numerous videos documenting training exercises simulating ground raids against Israel, including scenarios involving mock military outposts and fortified guard towers.
According to defense officials, the Houthis have increasingly warned in recent weeks and months that they could carry out ground attacks, including against Israel.
Defense officials say the Houthis are unpredictable and have posed significant challenges to Saudi Arabia through their methods of warfare, as well as their extremist and uncompromising culture and ideology.
As a result, Israel is taking no chances and is preparing for unexpected developments through several parallel measures.
These include maintaining reserve and rapid-response troops in the Eilat area, conducting training exercises, deploying weapons systems, and improving coordination and connectivity among ground, naval, and air units.
The preparations also involve shortening response times and conducting joint exercises with the Israel Police and Border Police operating in the area.
In addition, Israeli defense officials are not ruling out the possibility of a chain reaction in which the Houthis significantly increase their attacks on the Saudi home front, causing additional casualties and substantial damage.
Such a development could force Saudi Arabia to intensify its military response, potentially drawing the US military into a more forceful confrontation.
Houthis could target US interests in Israel
Under such circumstances, the Houthis could target American interests on Israeli territory, potentially requiring the IDF to respond.
"The Houthis have long since ceased to be regarded as proxies of the Iranians, and they are demonstrating operational independence with an inexplicable determination against the Saudis," one defense official said.
The threat from Yemen features prominently in Israeli security assessments, alongside extensive intelligence-gathering efforts aimed at monitoring Houthi intentions and capabilities.
At the same time, operational and intelligence coordination between the IDF and the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) is aimed at refining early-warning mechanisms against attempts to catch Israel by surprise and reducing the likelihood of unexpected attacks as much as possible.