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Short answer
The Houthis, a Yemen-based terrorist group backed by Iran, have been firing missiles at Israel without much result…
Though the attacks yielded negligible Israeli casualties, they invited retaliatory strikes and international condemnation, which further damaged Yemen’s infrastructure and world status.The Houthis’ missile attacks on Israel really do not get them ANYWHERE. They demonstrate amazingly poor judgment and a lack of strategic wisdom, as well as proving counterproductive due to their consistent ineffectiveness in light of Israel’s robust air defense systems.
Furthermore, the Houthis’ aggression escalates regional instability while ignoring the dire humanitarian situation in their own country. In essence, this local terrorist group is diverting vital resources from its own population, already suffering from widespread starvation and disease, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis without actually achieving any strategic gain.
What a waste…
Long answer
The Houthis’ missile attacks on Israel really do not get them anywhere and demonstrate an amazingly poor judgment and a lack of strategic wisdom, proving counterproductive due to their consistent ineffectiveness in light of Israel’s robust air defense systems.
Here’s why:
1.On March 27, 2025, Israel intercepted two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis from Yemen before they entered Israeli territory, despite the Houthis’ claims of targeting Ben Gurion Airport and a military site in Jaffa.
2.On March 20, 2025, Israel’s military successfully intercepted another Houthi-launched missile, neutralizing it before it entered Israeli airspace, with no reported injuries.
3.In December 2024, although a Houthi missile reached Tel Aviv, resulting in broken glass and minor injuries to 16 people, it caused no significant damage.
4.By July 20, 2024, the IDF reported over 220 Houthi projectiles launched at Israel. The vast majority were intercepted or caused minimal damage, highlighting the attacks’ ineffectiveness.
5.On July 21, 2024, Israel intercepted a surface-to-surface missile from Yemen. Despite Houthi claims of targeting Eilat, the IDF denied any explosions in the city.
The attacks result in minimal damage and very few casualties, while exposing the Houthis to retaliatory strikes by the U.S. and Israel and vast international condemnation.
Even enemies of Israel acknowledge the damage these actions inflict on the international perception of the Palestinian cause: the misallocation of resources that could address Palestinian economic needs, the self-inflicted harm from malfunctioning rockets landing in Palestinian territories, and the negative geopolitical consequences for regional stability.The group’s actions provoke not only Israel but also challenge the United States and the broader international community. The disruption of Suez Canal traffic—a vital global trade route—is already impacting Egypt’s economy and eventually backfires.
Despite these drawbacks and the evident futility, the Houthis persist, claiming to target Israeli military bases and threatening escalation, reinforcing the perception of their actions as misguided. They thrive on perpetual conflict, presenting themselves as Yemen’s sole defenders against external aggression.
It is difficult to comprehend why the Houthis would exacerbate the suffering in Yemen, a country where the per capita income is approximately $50 per month—among the lowest in the world. The resources spent on these attacks represent a profound misallocation of funds in a nation where millions face starvation, disease, and the collapse of essential services.
