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The Houthi movement in Yemen has launched an extensive wave of arrests within its ranks, including members of its security forces, amid growing suspicions of espionage, according to a Maariv report citing Yemeni security sources.
This crackdown follows the recent deaths of several senior Houthi leaders in aerial strikes, which have heightened fears of intelligence leaks within the group.
The report highlights that the precise methods used to target the Houthi leaders remain unclear, fueling speculation and distrust among the group’s ranks.
“The unexplained eliminations have prompted the leadership to suspect infiltration,” a Yemeni security source told Maariv.
Israel, a vocal critic of the Iran-aligned Houthi regime, has repeatedly pledged to take decisive action against the group.
In December, Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed to dismantle the group’s infrastructure and leadership, echoing recent strikes on figures such as Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah.
Escalating Threats and Countermeasures
In light of these threats, the Houthi leadership has adopted stringent security measures. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the group is constructing underground command complexes to shield key figures from potential strikes.
Leaders have also abandoned cell phones and frequently change their hideouts to evade detection. The Houthi movement has been a critical component of Iran’s regional strategy, often accused of destabilizing the region and threatening global maritime routes.
Since the onset of the current conflict, the group has launched approximately 40 surface-to-surface missiles and 320 drones toward Israel.
While the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have intercepted the majority of these threats, some strikes have caused damage or debris-related incidents.
US Precision Strikes
The Houthi campaign has also drawn the attention of the United States. On Wednesday, US forces conducted precision strikes targeting two underground weapons storage facilities in Houthi-controlled areas.
These facilities, according to CENTCOM, housed advanced conventional weaponry used in attacks on US Navy vessels and merchant ships in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
“The strikes aim to neutralize threats posed by the Iran-backed Houthis to regional partners and international shipping,” CENTCOM stated, emphasizing that no casualties or damage were reported during the operation.
Growing Regional Tensions
The Houthis’ actions have further exacerbated tensions in the Middle East, with Israel positioning itself as a key actor in countering the group’s influence.
Defense Minister Katz’s statement earlier this month underscored the severity of Israel’s stance: “We will strike the Houthis hard, destroy their strategic infrastructure, and decapitate their leadership… as we did in Tehran, Gaza, and Lebanon.”
This declaration aligns with Israel’s broader strategy to neutralize threats across multiple fronts in the region.
The Houthis’ ties to Iran’s broader “Axis of Evil” have made them a focal point in the conflict, drawing international attention to the group’s activities and their implications for regional stability.
With mounting external pressure and internal suspicion, the Houthis face a challenging landscape as they seek to navigate both security threats and potential fractures within their organization.