Days after conducting airstrikes on Tehran-backed Houthi targets in Yemen, Israeli Air Force (IAF) commanders have stated their readiness to strike Iran directly if ordered. Speaking to Hebrew media, an IAF commander emphasized their operational capacity, saying, “Yemen is further away than Iran. Now do the math. If I were sitting in Iran, I wouldn’t sit calmly.”
The Israeli military confirmed that over 20 IAF aircraft, including fighter jets, refuelers, and reconnaissance planes, participated in the Yemen strikes, targeting the Hodeida and Ras Isa ports, as well as the Hezyaz power plant near Sanaa, dropping around 50 munitions.
Amid ongoing Houthi drone and missile attacks on Israel, some officials within Israel’s security establishment, including Mossad chief David Barnea, have advocated for direct action against Iran, arguing that striking the Houthis alone has not sufficiently deterred the group.
Since October 7, 2023, the Houthis have launched over 350 drones and missiles at Israel, following the Hamas attack that killed approximately 1,200 people and led to the Gaza conflict. Iran, a key supporter of the Houthis, has denied directly supplying the weapons.
Israel has previously launched direct strikes on Iran, including an April attack on an air defense battery near a nuclear site in response to an Iranian drone and missile barrage. Israeli warplanes also targeted Iranian air defenses and its ballistic missile infrastructure on October 26, hitting factories, storage sites, and research facilities linked to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
As tensions rise, speculation grows that Israel may target Iran’s nuclear facilities, particularly amid US security concerns and the upcoming inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.