Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen said they had uncovered a spy network, which they claimed was operated by Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, and the CIA. In a statement earlier this week, the Houthis said these foreign agents were tasked with monitoring vital military installations, including missile sites, drone operations, naval forces, and weapons depots. They also reportedly kept track of senior Houthi leaders living in Yemen, especially those wanted by the U.S. and Israel.
The network was allegedly headed by a Saudi national identified as Hamid Hussein Majali, active on Yemeni soil since October 7 of last year. The Houthis accused him of recruiting locals for espionage activities directed at undermining their operations, especially since they have conducted attacks against Israel and international shipping lanes in support of Hamas in Gaza.
It is against this background that Israel has announced its resolve to go after the Houthis, having weakened other Iran proxy forces in the region, such as Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. On December 24, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that Israel could not allow missile and drone threats from the Houthis to go unchecked.
Katz added, “Just as we took care of (Yahya) Sinwar in Gaza, of (Ismail) Haniyeh in Tehran, of (Hassan) Nasrallah in Beirut, we will take care of the leadership of the Houthis whether in Sana’a or any place in Yemen.” Katz referred to the elimination of top officials from Hamas and Hezbollah.
Earlier that same day, the IDF shot down a missile over Tel Aviv launched by the Houthis, sending alarm sirens wailing as residents rushed for shelter. Were Israel to take action against Houthi leaders, that would amount to an unprecedented escalation in this war.
