Despite the geographical distance from Israel, the General Staff has decided, following a series of discussions, to classify the situation with the Houthis as a military campaign. In light of reduced activity in the Syrian and Lebanese arenas, the attention of the defense establishment as a whole, and the intelligence community in particular, will shift to Yemen, according to a report published this morning (Monday) on Walla.
Under the directive of Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, the Intelligence Corps will receive increased resources for intelligence collection on the Houthis in Yemen. Similarly, the Air Force will be allocated additional resources for targeting senior figures among the Houthis, military infrastructure, systems, and supply chains, with an emphasis on the delivery of weapon systems and raw materials for manufacturing armaments originating from Iran and other countries.
The Connection with China
According to a report published last night on i24NEWS, the United States has obtained intelligence indicating that the Houthis are using Chinese-made weapons in their attacks. As part of agreements under which Chinese-owned vessels would be immune from Houthi attacks, China is expected to provide the terrorist organization with political support. The Houthis’ advanced weapons heavily rely on components manufactured by private companies based in China. The report suggests that China facilitates the purchase of these components from local companies.
U.S. Reaction and Sanctions on China
The United States has filed a formal diplomatic protest against the Chinese weapons supply chain and has imposed sanctions on several individuals and entities in China involved in the supply chain. If these protests are not addressed, the U.S. plans to work jointly with Israel to disconnect Chinese trade networks from the global financial system.
Egypt Joins Israel
Yesterday, it was reported that Egypt is preparing for the possibility of military action against the Houthis in Yemen. Against the backdrop of escalating threats to international shipping routes vital for global trade, Egypt is showing increased willingness to intervene in the Yemeni arena, preparing Rafael and F-16 fighter jets for airstrikes against the Houthis.
The Economic Front
Egypt’s actions stem not only from security concerns but also from economic needs, aiming to ensure the continued flow of trade through strategic waterways. Egypt’s preparation follows Houthi attacks that have caused significant revenue losses from the Suez Canal, a critical maritime trade route valued at approximately seven billion dollars annually.
